Processor adds more to mid-range handsets

The latest addition to the SH-Mobile family of application processors is targeted at mid-range mobile phone models.

Renesas Technology has launched the latest addition to its SH-Mobile family of application processors, targeted at mid-range mobile phone models.

The SH-MobileJ3 (SH7326) features 4Mpixel camera support and on-chip image processing hardware accelerators, originally developed for current high-end models.

Sample shipments will begin in May 2005.

The SH-MobileJ3 is a SiP (system in package) product offering enhanced image processing functions compared with Renesas Technology's current SH-MobileJ2 (SH7316) for mid-range mobile phone models.

Mobile phone applications have expanded rapidly to include gaming, camera functionality, personal organisation functions and music.

In addition, applications currently only offered in the high-end mobile phone models are expected to become increasingly available in mid-range models and the SH-MobileJ3 has been developed in line with this market evolution and incorporates 128Mbit SDRAM, to complement the enhanced processing power offered.

The SH-MobileJ3 supports 4Mpixel compared with the 2Mpixel of the current SH-MobileJ2, and two camera interfaces instead of the current one.

Major image processing enhancements include the provision of an MPEG-4 2 full hardware accelerator with 30 frame per second decoding processing capability for a QVGA-size display, and a JPEG hardware accelerator that has been field-proven in digital still camera chips.

All processing of MPEG-4 and JPEG images is now accomplished in hardware thereby reducing the performance demands on the CPU, the power consumption and enhancing performance.

The required memory buffer to handle JPEG image processing is also reduced, enabling compression and expansion to be performed approximately ten times faster, for smoother image display.

The SH-MobileJ3 features a high-performance 32bit SH3-DSP CPU core with a maximum operating frequency of 133MHz.

It also features more on-chip SRAM capacity for high-speed work memory use, from the 32Kbyte of the SH-MobileJ2 to 128Kbyte, for smoother application operation.

Peripheral functions suited to next-generation mid-range models have also been added.

The inclusion of such features as a TFT colour liquid crystal panel compatible LCD controller and video output unit, an IrDA interface for infrared communications, and USB2.0 function (full speed) support facilitates the implementation of a wide variety of next-generation mid-range model functions.

The capacity of Flash memory which can connect to a NAND/AND Flash memory interface has been substantially increased from the maximum 512Mbit of the previous product to 4Gbit, helping to implement such mobile phone functional enhancements as expansion of data storage capacity.

The package used is a 281-pin CSP (9 x 11 x 1.4mm, 0.5mm pin pitch), an SiP with on-chip 128Mbit SDRAM that requires a smaller mounting area.

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