Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Flint | Subject: Micronas IC SDA6000
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 18 October 2002
Processor offers powerful graphics
A new advanced video device combines a powerful 16bit MCU with a sophisticated on-screen display engine to deliver the performance needed for multimedia graphics in public information displays.
New from Flint is an advanced video device combining a powerful 16bit microcontroller with a sophisticated on-screen display engine to deliver the performance needed to satisfy the demand for multimedia graphics in public concourse information displays and kiosks With on-chip support for a wide range of TV standards including Pal and NTSC, the Micronas IC SDA6000 from Flint provides facilities for TeleWeb, Teletext (up to level 2.5), VPS, WSS, Chinatext, closed caption and EPG (electronic programme guide) applications
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 24 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Power MOSFETs come in ultracompact packages
Rohm Electronics is significantly enlarging its ultracompact power-MOSFET lineup, which already encompasses 60 different devices.
Next generation battery cuts out NRE costs
Recently launched by Varta Microbattery and now in stock at Flint Distribution, the Varta Easypack is billed as the ideal solution for next generation battery requirements.
Its vast number of graphics capabilities and variable character sets ensures a wide range of OSD applications is also supported.
The IC boasts a 33MHz C166 processor core integrated with a data caption and signal processing unit, a peripherals I/O unit and a display generator.
A new flexible data caption system enables the SDA6000 to slice a wide range of data, giving designers the versatility of a universal data decoder.
Further reading
New name for batteries
Varta Microbattery has rebranded of standard alkaline, nickel metal hydride and lithium round cells.
Passives range goes lead-free
Koa's full range of passive components is now available Pb-free.
MLCCs take rougher handling without cracking up
A new range of chip capacitors can handle up to 400% more mechanical stress in case sizes from 0603 to 3640.
The digital slicer incorporates special measurement circuits to help identify bad signal conditions, hence compensate automatically for common signal disturbances.
For example, it provides high-quality VBI line acquisition even with distorted CVBS signals.
Enhanced control logic allows the data caption system to provide individual programming for each line, enabling every line to carry an individual service, which is sliced and stored in the memory.
Display generation is based on frame buffer technology, in which display information is individually stored for each pixel, allowing greater flexibility with screen menus.
Proportional fonts, Asian characters and even HTML browsers can now be supported.
Optimum OSD performance is obtained by splitting the process of generation and display into two independent tasks.
Image generation in the frame buffer is optimised by a hardware graphics accelerator, which frees the CPU from power intensive address calculations.
The graphics accelerator 'prints' the characters, at the desired 'screen' position, into the frame buffer memory based on a display list provided by the software.
The second part of the display generator, the screen refresh unit, then reads the frame buffer according to the programmed display mode and screen refresh rate and converts the pixel information into an analogue RGB signal.
An RGB-DAC provides state-of-the-art colour resolution up to 65536 colours, providing complete graphics functionality implemented as a system on chip.
Screen resolution is programmable up to SVGA, only limited by the available memory (64Mbit) and the maximum pixel clock frequency (50MHz).
An advanced version is available for addressing LCDs directly via digital RGB output interface.
The SDA6000's memory architecture is places program code, variables, application data, bitmaps and data captured from the analogue TV signal's vertical blanking interval (VBI) in the same physical memory.
An external bus interface supports SDRAM as well as ROM or Flash ROM.
Linear memory organisation makes it easy to program the chip for graphics purposes.
Complementing the IC is a software development toolbox called MATE, comprising a multilevel graphics API, a SDA6000 builder with resource editing, management and code generation facilities; and a display simulator allowing on-screen applications to be viewed and prototyped on standard PC.
To help developers make a start on their design, there is also a tutorial, reference layout, evaluation board, demonstration CD-ROM and a comprehensive set of application notes and technical articles.
In addition, Flint can supply a vast range of third-party development tools both for the SDA6000 and for its built in C166 processor.
• Flint: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
