Application processor targets 5Mpixel camera modules

Renesas Technology America Inc.'s SH-Mobile3A application processor (SH73380) for mobile phones supports new information and entertainment services and capabilities, including terrestrial digital TV broadcasts and high-resolution (5Mpixel) camera modules.

The SH-Mobile3A employs the next generation SuperH risc core that implements a superscalar architecture with integral DSP and multiple on-chip caches. The 32bit RISC/DSP CPU core delivers 389MIPS processing performance at 216MHz, for a high rating of 1.8MIPS/MHz. The CPU runs higher level software functions that accelerate system integration and ensure high quality digital broadcast applications independent of the cellular interface, according to Renesas.

A newly developed video processing Unit supports high-speed video compression specified by both the H.264 standard for ISDB-T (Terrestrial Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting) TV services, and the MPEG-4 standard for movie and videophone applications. The versatile video engine can also support other digital TV broadcasting formats for mobile phones that may be adopted in various countries, such as DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting for Handheld) and DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting).

The SH-Mobile3A incorporates a variety of other peripheral functions that are ideal for mobile phone systems such as an LCD controller that's compatible with TFT color LCD panel and a sound interface.

The built-in camera interface of the SH-Mobile3A supports direct connection to camera modules up to 5-megapixel resolution, so users of high-end phones can take high quality photographs. Besides handling large volumes of image data, the camera interface supports digital-zoom display and overlay display capabilities using on-screen display functions and hardware cursor support. Moreover, the SH-Mobile3A's video output unit allows the captured images to be viewed on an NTSC or PAL TV set.

A mobile phone based on the SH-Mobile3A device can provide impressive picture-taking capabilities. An on-chip JPEG hardware accelerator processes images quickly: 0.02 seconds/photo or less for VGA size images, and 0.1 seconds/photo or less for SXGA size. This speed allows the creation of a wide array of attractive camera applications, since users will be able to snap photos in rapid succession.

The SH73380 is housed in a 409-pin CSP, measuring 12-by-12-by-1.4mm with 0.5mm pin pitch. Sample quantities of the unit will be available in April at a per unit price of $48.

- Marty Gold

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