Freescale technology provides advanced performance for Sony high definition broadcast video cameras

Sony’s XDCAM HD422 Series professional disc system uses PowerQUICC processors to deliver video processing and transmission

TOKYO .– Freescale Semiconductor is providing PowerQUICC® communications processors for Sony’s XDCAM™ HD422 Series professional disc system, delivering enhanced camcorder and recorder functionality needed for high definition (HD) broadcasts. Based on high performance Power Architecture™ cores and Freescale’s heritage of network technology leadership, PowerQUICC processors support demanding audio-visual market requirements such as precise video control and high speed network application processing.

Sony’s XDCAM HD422 product line is the flagship model of the company’s XDCAM Series professional disc system and consists of the PDW-700 progressive CCD camcorder and PDW-HD1500 recorder deck. Sony uses Freescale’s PowerQUICC II MPC8248 and PowerQUICC III MPC8548 devices to power the cameras, which leverage the processors’ outstanding total system performance to enable high-precision video file processing and high-speed file transfer capabilities.

“The low power, high performance PowerQUICC processors that drive our XDCAM HD422 Series products will play a critical role in our ability to deliver affordable, highly advanced HD equipment that succeeds in the marketplace,” said Tetsuya Iwamoto, deputy general manager, CC Products Design Department Two, Business & Professional System Division, B2B Solutions Business Group at Sony Corporation. “We are especially impressed with the processors’ ability to support the high speed transfer of HD quality videos. Freescale’s reputation as a provider of world class networking processors is well deserved.”

High definition cameras going mainstream
The evolution of professional video equipment, along with the use of the Internet to transfer video, has led to professional and consumer demand for high-precision content. Increased data quantity, content protection and insurance for loss-less streaming are all issues dependent on networking technology to increase processing efficiency. Meanwhile, the worldwide transition from analog to digital television means more and more high profile events are being broadcast in high definition, thereby driving demand for HD cameras.

“The ability to carry professional video over IP networks is a market requirement that can only be met by the deployment of robust processor architectures,” said Tsuneji Inami, director for Freescale Semiconductor Japan Limited. “Freescale’s PowerQUICC integrated communications processors are helping Sony deliver an industry-leading XDCAM solution that delivers high data transfer rates, long recording times and stunning-quality images – attributes that will, for example, be especially important to meet the high-precision broadcast needs of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.”

MPC8248 and MPC8548E communications processors
The high-performance MPC8248 PowerQUICC II processor features a distributed architecture designed to reduce power consumption and offer a more balanced approach to processing than traditional processor architectures. The powerful Communications Processor Module (CPM) offloads communications tasks, freeing the 603e core based on Power Architecture technology to manage high-level processing tasks. On-chip security makes the MPC8248 an optimal solution for networking and communications applications that require security features in concert with high performance and low system-level cost. High levels of on-chip integration and a small footprint also enable developers to reduce board space.

The MPC8548E networking/telecom device is a member of Freescale’s PowerQUICC III family of processors. The device offers a combination of features that makes it an optimal communications processing solution for Ethernet-only or RapidIO™ interworking applications, including video transmission applications. Leveraging the high performance e500 core based on Power Architecture technology, it includes 512KB L2 cache, integrated security engine, 64-bit DDR1/2 memory controller scaling to 533 MHz data rate, 32-bit PCI, 64-bit PCI-X, x4 Serial RapidIO fabric technology and x4 PCI Express (or single x8 PCI Express 1.0a), local bus IO interfaces and four Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
For more details on PowerQUICC communications processors, visit http://www.freescale.com/PowerQUICC.

Sony XDCAM professional disc system
Sony will demonstrate its new XDCAM HD422 Series at the National Association of Broadcasters 2008 trade show scheduled for April 14-17 in Las Vegas. Since its introduction in 2004, the Sony XDCAM Series – comprised of SD and HD camcorders and decks – offers tremendous workflow benefits for many types of video production tasks. The optical disc-based XDCAM system utilizes blue-violet laser technology to achieve high data transfer rates and long recording times. Its file-based recording and random access capabilities not only remove the “linear-natured” barriers common to tape media, but also merge the AV and IT worlds by featuring the functions required for both domains.