Chips bring higher picture quality to LCD TV

A new generation of high-end motion compensation/estimation semiconductor solutions improves the picture quality of matrix displays (LCD or plasma), 100Hz and progressive scan television sets.

A new generation of high-end motion compensation/estimation semiconductor solutions improves the picture quality of matrix displays (LCD or plasma), 100Hz and progressive scan television sets.

Philips' SAA4998 family features high-performance, cost-effective technology that offers consumers a clear picture and a comfortable experience when viewing moving images on TV.

Philips' system solutions reduce blur and judder to provide high quality pictures even during "high action" sequences in film, TV and especially DVD.

Blurry images of moving TV scenes can be pitfalls of LCD panels.

The unclear images can cause consumers eyestrain and overall, results in a low-quality TV viewing experience.

Philips' newly launched SAA4998 reduces these effects significantly by using Philips' uniquely patented technique in motion compensation called edge dependent de-interlacing (EDDI) to make possible sharp characters and diagonal lines.

Philips also improves the picture quality by increasing the frame rate and reducing motion blur based on motion-compensated picture interpolation.

This technology is particularly compelling when viewing DVD movies, where movie judder is highly visible.

Furthermore, Philips' SAA4998 offers manufacturers the flexibility to use 60Hz LCD panels in regions that use 50Hz by offering a true judder-free 50-60Hz conversion.

Specific to the European region, motion-compensated 100Hz TVs have already set the standard for best-in-class cathode ray tube (CRT) TV sets.

Philips has been leading this motion compensation technology for 100Hz TVs since 1995.

Now with the launch of the SAA4998 and the cost-optimised SAA4999A, Philips is using its advanced CMOS embedded DRAM technology to drive the total application costs down to make this technology affordable for the broader TV market.

Compared with previous generation solutions, all external memory is now integrated which brings a gain in application costs up to 30%.

"The picture quality is a key differentiating factor for LCD TV and 100Hz TV", said Jos Klippert, Marketing Manager High-End TV, Philips Semiconductors.

"Philips has detailed expertise in TV and widely praised picture processing technology to create IC solutions, such as the SAA4998, to offer TV makers and consumers the optimal TV viewing experience in the era of LCD TV".

"We are going to use this next-generation of high-end motion compensation/edge dependent de-interlacing device in our new TVs, based on matrix displays such as PDP, LCD and DLP", said Roland Bohl, Head of TV Development, Loewe Opta.

"Because of our close partnership with Philips in the field of high-end video processing, we are the first company to be able to apply this technology for the consumer market.

The first product, Spheros-42-HD, will be launched in July 2003".

Philips' SAA4998 family of system solutions is sampling now and will be in volume production in August 2003.

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