NEC Electronics Introduces Next Generation of EMMATM System LSI Chips for HD DVD Systems

KAWASAKI, Japan, DUESSELDORF, Germany, SANTA CLARA, Calif., January 17, 2007

NEC Electronics has introduced its newest generation of its renowned EMMATM series of high performance system LSI chips for digital consumer applications. The EMMATM3 series is optimized for systems such as HD DVD players and recorders that handle the processing of next generation DVD content.

The latest EMMA series incorporates in a single chip all the functions necessary to process high definition images, sounds and graphics in HD DVD players. It can process compression formats such as MPEG2, H.264, and VC-1, and offers powerful support for high level applications by way of two built-in CPUs. EMMA3 is already used successfully in HD DVD players sold by Toshiba Corporation such as the HD-XA2 and HD-A2 in North America, the HD-XA2 and HD-XF2 in Japan, as well as other players designed for Europe and Australia.

NEC Electronics has focused on steadily expanding its offerings in the digital consumer arena, with a particular emphasis on audio-visual systems such as DVD recorders, digital televisions, and set top boxes. As a result, the company is now a leading force in the industry. The company shipped over 3 million back-end processing chips for DVD recorders in 2005 and has acquired a greater than 20 percent share of the global market. During the same period, NEC Electronics also shipped over 24 million front-end processing chips for DVD recorders and held more than 30 percent of the global market.

NEC Electronics’ EMMA series, based on digital image and sound compression technology, is the company’s flagship series of digital AV devices. To date, over 20 types of EMMA products have been delivered to 50 companies in twelve different countries, with shipments totaling 30 million units. However, the increasing popularity of image and sound content based on compression formats such as H. 264 and VC-1 in HD DVD systems has generated demand for a new EMMA series to handle these evolving technologies. NEC Electronics designed its EMMA3 series with these needs in mind, and incorporated the following features:

1) Advanced functions for HD DVD systems all on a single chip
New high definition video formats such as H.264 and VC-1 that support high image quality, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio decoders for superior sound quality, stream processing, and HD graphics processing are all included on a single chip, greatly reducing the number of components needed to build an HD DVD player.

2) Supports high level applications with a multi-CPU core
Two CPUs -- a 64-bit VR5500 application processor capable of speeds up to 654 Dhrystone MIPS, and a 32-bit MIPS32TM CPU capable of up to 457 Dhrystone MIPS -- enable high performance functions such as browsers and data streaming required of next generation DVD systems.

3) The world’s first common platform for HD DVD playback and recording
Optimization for stream processing used in digital broadcast recording, and multi-channel stream input and output, allow easy development of HD DVD recorders. A common platform for playback and recording make it easier to share software for these functions.

4) Efficient software development with NEC Electronics’ own platformOViATM
The EMMA3 series is compatible with NEC Electronics’ platformOVIA framework, which enables development using Linux® and helps shorten development times through the efficient reuse of software.

NEC Electronics believes the EMMA3 series will be instrumental in the development of next generation DVD systems. The company will actively promote sales of its new line, and continue to develop and expand the series to meet the growing demand from customers and the evolving needs of manufacturers.

Pricing and Availability
Samples of the EMMA3 devices are available now, priced at US$200. Volume production is scheduled to commence in April 2007, and reach approximately 300,000 units per month. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Please refer to the attachment for specifications of EMMA3.
Additional information about NEC Electronics’ digital AV products can be found at http://www.necel.com/digital_av/

About NEC Electronics

NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile handset, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 24 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.am.necel.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH (www.eu.necel.com). For additional information about NEC Electronics worldwide, visit www.necel.com.


Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.

Contact Information

Denise Garibaldi

Public Relations Manager

NEC Electronics America, Inc.

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