Toshiba's New MPEG-4 Encoder and Decoder LSI Integrates High Performance 3D Graphics Engine

23 February, 2004


TC35285XBG

TOKYO -- Toshiba Corporation today announced the launch of a powerful MPEG-4 encoder and decoder LSI that brings video-game-grade 3D graphics to cellular phones. The latest addition to Toshiba's T series of MPEG-4 LSI, the T4G (part number: TC35285XBG) supports fast rendering of graphics, including advanced shading, texture mapping, special effects and other visualization functions, enabling mobile phones to offer high-resolution 3D graphics matching those of current game consoles.

Most of today's advanced mobile phones render 3D graphics by software, an approach that severely burdens the CPU and increases power consumption. The T4G instead integrates a dedicated circuit for high-grade 3D graphics. At a time when cellular phones are diversifying to become games platforms and personal GPS systems, the T4G delivers a timely solution that supports improved graphics and renders video sources with a drawing performance of 125-million pixels a second.

Alongside its 3D graphic processor, T4G integrates a JPEG codec for a 2-megapixel camera and an LCD control circuit for a QVGA panel. The need for external memory is eliminated by the provision of embedded-DRAM fabricated with 130-nanometer process technology. Power consumption (at 125 MHz operation) is between 170 to 230 milliwatts, and the chip is packaged in a 12 x 12mm ball gird array.

Sample shipments of T4G will start in the second quarter of calendar year 2004, at a unit price of 4,000 yen. Mass production is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2004.

“Broadband data communication and larger, high quality LCD are fueling demand for high performance mobile phones,” said Yasuhiko Fujita, Senior Manager of the System LSI Division at Toshiba Corporation's Semiconductor Company. “With our T series of MPEG-4 codec LSIs, we have led the way in bringing video to mobile phones, since as long ago as 1998. The T4, the predecessor of the T4G, is already in use in the latest phones on the Japanese market. The launch of T4G, with its 3D graphics processor and other image processing circuits, goes even further to meeting the phone makers' requirement for high level performance in compact design.”

Main Features of New LSI

  • Three hardware accelerators—an MEPG-4 codec, 3D graphics engine and JPEG codec—support high-speed processing of motion and still pictures, and high-speed processing and rendering of 3D games.
  • Integration of diverse hardware, including the MPEG-4 video codec, speech codec, audio encoding and decoding, audio and video multiplexing, and a digital video input and output interface, boost functionality.
  • Able to process 3.5-million vertices a second and 125-million pixels a second. Embedded-DRAM technology facilitates data transfer to the graphic controller at a rate of 2 gigabytes a second, achieving game-console quality video output with low power consumption. OpenGL-ES is fully supported as the graphic API.
  • The JPEG codec supports still images with a maximum resolution of 2 mega-pixels (1,632 x 1,224). The camera interface allows connection of two cameras.
  • Integrated LCD panel controller for CIF (352 x 288) images.

Specifications

Specifications


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