application processor.
(Click for larger image of Horizon's STB SoC)According to Horizon, the Hz4120 targets cable, while the Hz3120 is for satellite reception. Both are said to use advanced ultra-wide-range motion estimation, adaptive picture quality analysis, and rate control algorithms, providing real-time HD video encoding at up to 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The company says the required encoding standards were previously achievable only through the use of off-line software encoders. The new chips can thus significantly reduce STB disk storage requirements, and enable low-bandwidth, high-definition video/audio transcoding and transmission applications, according to the company.
The chips' built-in application processor is capable of running Windows CE or embedded Linux operating systems, the company said.
Horizon has not yet published a data sheet, block diagrams, or photos of the processors. However, technical attributes cited in the company's announcement include:
- Performs real-time dual channel HD encoding, or 12-channel SD encoding, simultaneously with HD encoding/transcoding.
- Supports compression standards including H.264 (AVC) main and high profile up to Level 4.2, VC-1 (SMPTE 421M) advanced profile @ Level 3, DV, HDV, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 at resolutions of up to 1080/60p (1920x1080, 60 fps)
- Display processor allows multiple plane true color blending, flexible resizing, motion-adaptive high-definition deinterlacing, and motion-compensated picture enhancement
- 2D and 3D graphics accelerator supports standards including X Window System and OpenGL
- Multi-channel multi-format audio encoder, decoder, and special audio effects processor supports MPEG-1 Layer I and II, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, MP3, AAC/AAC-LC/AAC-HE, DTS, and WMA
- I/O includes 10/100/1G Ethernet, USB 2.0, IDE/ATAPI, SMPTE-292, Flash, I2C, SPI/SSI, UART, and others
- DVI/HDMI output offers HDCP security
- IEEE 1394
In a statement, Horizon CTO Leonid Yavits said "Horizon's single-chip solution represents a significant milestone in the evolution of [the] STB. Operators are now compelled to offer entirely new advanced applications spanning from 60 fps decoding, to transferring video/audio to portable media players and mobile devices, to place shifting and networked PVRs. The Hz4120 and Hz3120 will ... play a pivotal role in enabling these advanced applications."
Pricing and availability information has not been released.
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