Video converter renders dual images

National Semiconductor Corp. introduced what it claims is the first dual-channel video format converter for high-definition television that features two video conversion channels and a dual 3-D architecture.

The video format converter enables picture-and-picture (a viewing window within a screen) rendering of two high-quality images on a widescreen HDTV with up to 1080p display resolution.

The dual 3-D video format converter is comprised of two main blocks: a universal front-end and a dual-channel display processor. The universal front-end accepts standard- and high-definition video formats, PC graphics formats and DVI signals, decoding the signals into component video or RGB. It contains seven analog-to-digital converters (A/D converters), one transmission-minimized differential signaling (TMDS) receiver and two NTSC/PAL/SECAM decoders with 3-D Y/C separation.

Two outputs from the universal front-end can be selected for the dual-channel display processor. The dual-channel display processor features two 3-D noise reducers, two 3-D deinterlacers and two high-order scalers for size and aspect ratio scaling.

Additional features include luma and chroma enhancement; frame-rate-conversion; adaptive contrast enhancement; multi-picture functions such as side-by-side viewing of two full-quality images on a wide screen; intelligent color remapping; and the generation and overlay of a bitmapped on-screen-display (OSD).

"Side-by-side viewing of two images on a display is one of the compelling features enabled by high-resolution widescreen televisions," said Dr. Nikhil Balram, CTO for National's Displays Group. "The AVC5000 is the industry's first dual 3-D solution that enables two high-quality images on one screen."

The device also features the industry's first integrated, dual-channel 10-bit low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) transmitter. The output signal formats of the AVC5000 include analog RGB or YPbPr for CRT displays, and transistor-transistor logic (TTL) or LVDS for flat panel or microdisplay.

Sampling now, the AVC5000 video format converter is packaged in a 544-pin BGA and costs $125 each in 1,000-unit quantities. Production quantities will follow in December.

- Bettyann Liotta