Analog Devices' Blackfin Powers Sigma's New SD14, 14 Megapixel Digital Camera.

Blackfin Performs up to 200 Computations Per Pixel for Every Image in Pipeline from Sensor to Memory Card.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI) today announced that Sigma Corporation selected Analog Devices' Blackfin([R]) processor for its SD14 digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera. Powered by the unique direct-image capabilities of the Foveon X3 sensor and a Blackfin ADSP-BF561 processor, the SD14 can reproduce high-definition images rich in gradation and three-dimensional detail, because the SD14 directly captures red, green and blue data for every pixel in an image, without loss or distortion.

"The SD14 tells the 'whole truth' about an image, by capturing the real color of every pixel," said Mr. Kazuto Yamaki, Chief Operating Officer, Sigma Corporation. "Analog Devices' Blackfin was the only product capable of meeting our requirements for an image-pipeline processor that could crunch the numbers required for such precision while also managing power consumption to maximize battery life."

Sigma chose the Blackfin ADSP-BF561 processor because it offered an optimal combination of high performance and low power consumption. The ADSP-BF561 processor comprises two independent Blackfin 600 MHz cores, an ideal design for mathematically intensive multimedia applications such as image processing. The Blackfin's on-chip power management features, including its programmable voltage regulator and PLL, enable low power modes to maximize SD14 battery life.

Data collected from the Sigma SD14 image sensor streams into the image pipeline, where a Blackfin ADSP-BF561 processor executes as many as 200 computations per pixel, running complex image-processing algorithms such as shading and color compensation, white balancing, tonal and color correction, sharpening, and compression. The speed of the image pipeline, from sensor to memory card, must execute very quickly to ready the camera for the next shot, allowing a series of shots in rapid succession.

"The power and performance of Blackfin enabled Sigma to achieve a breakthrough in digital photography. We look forward to working with Sigma to stretch the boundaries even further through our continued collaboration and innovation," said Jerry McGuire, vice president, General Purpose DSP Group, Analog Devices, Inc.

A Convergent Future Demands Blackfin-Class Processing

Analog Devices' Blackfin embodies a new breed of 16/32-bit embedded processor with the industry's highest performance and power efficiency for applications where a convergence of capabilities -- multi-format audio, video, voice and image processing; multi-mode baseband and packet processing; and real-time security and control processing -- are critical. It is this powerful combination of software flexibility and scalability that has gained Blackfin widespread adoption in convergent applications such as digital home entertainment, networked and streaming media, automotive telematics and infotainment, and digital radio and mobile TV.

Because developers today seek to reduce time to market by choosing a robust ecosystem that brings them nearer to the capabilities of their end-products, Analog Devices provides an industry-leading tools, starter kits and support including the familiar ADI CROSSCORE([R]) software and hardware tools that support other Blackfin Processors. These include the award-winning VisualDSP++[R] integrated development and debug environment (IDDE), emulators, and EZ-KIT Lite[R] evaluation hardware.

About Analog Devices

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest standing, highest growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "ADI" and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

Blackfin, CROSSCORE, VisualDSP++, and EZ-KIT Lite are registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. Lockbox Secure Technology is a trademark of Analog Devices Inc., and all other trademarks included herein are the property of their respective owners.

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