A next-generation motion-compensation/estimation chip for augmenting flat-panel displays (both LCD and plasma) improves the picture quality of 100-Hz and progressive-scan television sets. The SAA4998 reduces image blurring and eyestrain through a patented scheme called edge-dependent de-interlacing, which can sharpen characters and diagonal lines. Picture quality is enhanced by allowing higher frame rates and reducing motion blur based on motion-compensated picture interpolation. The SAA4998 also enables the use of 60-Hz LCD panels in regions that use 50-Hz power lines by offering a true jitter-free 50- to 60-Hz conversion. In the SAA4998 and the cost-optimized SAA4999A, the company’s embedded DRAM technology drives down the system cost. Samples of the SAA4998 are now available. In 200,000-unit lots, it costs $20 each.
Embedded Flash Technology Eases Inclusion Of Up To 10 Mbits On Chip
An embedded flash memory technology based on 180-nm design rules offers the industry’s smallest cell size in the embedded application space, with each flash cell occupying just 0.37 µm2. The small cell size greatly reduces the silicon area required to build memory arrays, reducing the chip manufacturing cost. Well suited for automotive applications, where system-on-a-chip solutions are often used for key functions such as engine management, navigation, and infotainment systems, the flash memory enables the periodic updating of the contents or the addition of new features. Popular processor cores such as the ARM7, ARM9, and ST10 are already supported. The embedded flash technology is fully compatible with the basic 180-nm libraries and cores already offered by the company. Memory arrays of up to 10 Mbits can be quickly defined, with sectorization down to 8 kbytes. The macrocell also includes built-In self-test features.
STMicroelectronics Inc. www.st.com (781) 861-2650
Advanced Itanium And Xeon CPUs Boost Performance By Up To 50%
Additional CPUs have been added to both the Itanium and Xeon MP processor families. The Itanium 2 processor (codenamed Madison) delivers 30% to 50% better performance than the previous Itanium 2 processor (McKinley) while maintaining compatibility with the previous processor and two future Itanium CPUs (Madison 9M and Montecito). The 2.8-GHz version of the 32-bit Xeon MP CPU is compatible with existing Xeon MP CPUs and delivers up to about a 10% performance boost over its predecessor. Several versions of the Itanium 2 CPU are available. One clocks at 1.5 GHz and packs 6 Mbytes of L3 cache. Another runs at 1.4 GHz and has 4 Mbytes of L3 cache. A third packs 3 Mbytes of L3 cache and runs at 1.30 GHz. They cost $4226, $2247, and $1338 apiece in 1000-unit lots, respectively. The Xeon MP is available at 2.80 GHz with 2 Mbytes of L3 cache, 2.50 GHz with 1 Mbyte of L3 cache, and 2.0 GHz with 1 Mbyte of L3 cache, and sells for $3692, $1980, and $1177, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities.
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