Breakthrough NXP solution brings H.264/MPEG 4 to iDTV

NXP TV543 single-chip platform enables internet TV and decoding of High Definition streams via terrestrial reception

NXP Semiconductors, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, today announced the world’s first single-chip LCD TV solution to deliver ground-breaking HDTV picture quality for advanced H.264 broadcast and MPEG-4 Internet content. The new NXP TV543 platform, featuring the PNX8543x processor, allows TV manufacturers to dramatically boost picture quality for both analog and digital reception, while allowing viewers to access Internet and digital video content all from the comfort of the living room.

The NXP TV543 is the first solution featuring integrated MPEG4/H.264 decoder to enable reception and decoding of MPEG4/H.264 SD and HD content; IP/internet content delivery to the home; and the new conditional access CI+ security standard – all on a single-chip DTV platform. Offering a production-ready reference design in a single system solution, the NXP TV543 speeds manufacturers time-to-market while ensuring low system bill of materials across the entire spectrum of low-, mid- and high-end televisions. With increased regional legislation, such as in France, requiring integrated H.264 decoders in iDTVs, the NXP TV543 provides a cost effective solution for TV set manufacturers to address these markets.

“The recent explosion in digital media has revolutionized the way we stay entertained, and for the first time we are freeing this content so that is can be enjoyed both on the PC and on the home TV,” said Christos Lagomichos, executive vice president and general manager, Home business unit, NXP Semiconductors. “,We have already dramatically improved HD picture quality with the launch of NXP Motion Accurate Picture Processing technology and are now taking that one stage further by giving access to high definition Internet content straight through the television. The new NXP TV543 gives television manufacturers the ideal platform for allowing consumers to view their favorite digital media in great quality, on larger screens and amongst friends.”

As the market for digital TVs continues to explode and consumers demand networked content with maximum convenience and quality, the NXP TV543 gives manufacturers a platform that is compatible with multiple digital TV standards, compliance with regional H.264 terrestrial broadcast requirements and includes production-ready reference designs and a system design-in toolkit to minimize time-to-market and development risks.

The NXP TV543’s innovative software architecture allows the use of leading third-party software components for advanced functionalities such as personal video recorders (PVRs) or DLNA-certified devices such as home media servers.

Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of TV/picture quality breakthroughs from NXP. The company’s Motion Accurate Picture Processing technology (MAPP) on its PNX5100 post processor is a revolutionary technology that delivers dynamic improvements in motion, sharpness, contrast and color removing artifacts such as Halo and Judder even on fast moving pictures. Its unique “2D-Color-Dimming” technology enables superior contrast and brilliant colors together with a large reduction in power consumption. Linking the TV543 platform to the PNX5100 with MAPP technology allows TV set makers to differentiate by allowing end users to access more digital content with benchmark HDTV picture quality.

The combination of NXP’s innovative technologies together with its reference designs and toolkits provides manufacturers with the ability to create and deliver highly-differentiated solutions, cost-effectively and quickly.