Rockwell Fuses Broadcast Media Capture Functions Onto a Single Chip; Rockwell's Fusion Product Family Takes Entertainment Technology to the Next Level With New Single-Chip Solutions That Bring Broadcast Media Content Into Mainstream PCs.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1997--Rockwell Semiconductor Systems has raised the bar for next-generation entertainment PCs with a family of single-chip devices that fuse capture functions for video, TV, broadcast audio and stereo FM radio onto a single chip solution.

Unlike previous solutions that only support video capture, the Fusion family provides broadcast media technology for applications including videoconferencing, video email, video and still editing, stereo PC TV and radio, and data services.

Rockwell's Fusion family builds on the architectural advances of the company's proven Bt848A video-capture device, which was the first of its kind to use an intelligent DMA engine and high-performance PCI bus master module to connect directly to the PCI bus.

This architecture can be used with any graphics controller and leverages the direct PCI connection by providing video scaling, and overlay support that is not limited by the frame buffer size. The Fusion family extends this platform by adding the ability to capture broadcast TV audio and stereo FM radio without the cabling and extra cost associated with previous architectures.

The result is the lowest-cost, easiest-to-integrate broadcast media-capture solution for today's mainstream PCs.

"The Fusion family defines a new category of broadcast capture device that truly addresses all of the new media content that consumers want on their PCs," said A.C. D'Augustine, vice president and general manager of Rockwell's Digital Infotainment Division.

"With Fusion, PC OEMs and add-in card makers now have a single easy-to-integrate part without cabling challenges, and PC users have a complete solution for listening to a stereo radio broadcast, watching their favorite TV news program, sending videomail, conducting videoconferences with friends and associates, or receiving data services like Intel's Intercast."

Fusing Broadcast Applications On The PC

The Fusion family uses the same core technology as Rockwell's successful Bt848A video capture device, which has helped to popularize video-based applications in such systems as the Toshiba Infinia 7200 home PC, Hauppauge's WinCast add-in card, the TV PCI board from STB Systems, and Gateway's Destination PC.

Rockwell's Fusion family includes the Bt878, which builds on the Bt848A solution with the addition of mono audio, and the Bt879, which adds such features as television stereo and FM stereo radio.

One of the biggest cost-cutting features of the Fusion family is its ability to capture broadcast audio and send it to the computer system sound card over the PCI bus without the need for any cabling from the video board to the sound board. The designer adds stereo functionality simply by connecting the Fusion chip to the composite audio output on a standard commercial TV or combination TV/radio tuner.

Video is also well supported, with all of the features and flexibility of Rockwell's proven Bt848A solution including an NTSC/PAL/SECAM video, support for multiple composite and S-Video inputs, a video scaler, image peaking, and an I2C port for connectivity to external devices such as tuners and digital cameras, all on a single device. The family also supports the digital video standard CCIR656. The ability to capture and decode Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) data allows the Fusion family to decode WST (Teletext) or NABTS (Intel's Intercast) and closed-captioning data.

Full Software Support

The Fusion family provides full support for Windows 95, including a complete suite of Video for Windows software drivers and a Software Developer's Kit (SDK) that provides a comprehensive set of template DLL source code. Dialog boxes, tuner functions, and the GPIO and I2C interfaces can all be modified and customized.

The Fusion family also supports most video-related retail software including Intel's Intercast and Videophone applications, Adobe Photoshop, Asymetrix' Digital Video Producer and Web Publisher, and the MetaTools Goo and Soap products.

The Bt878 and Bt879 are sampling now, and are priced at $22 and $24 respectively, in quantities of 1,000. Both products are packaged in a 128-pin Plastic Quad Flat Pack (PQFP). Volume production is scheduled for the first quarter of 1998.

For more information on Rockwell products, contact the Rockwell Literature Line at 800/854-8099 inside the U.S., at 714/221-6996 outside the U.S., or visit the Rockwell web site at http://www.rss.rockwell.com .

Rockwell Semiconductor Systems and Electronic Commerce, based in Newport Beach, is a leading worldwide provider of semiconductor system solutions for personal communications electronics and systems, software and services for the global call center industry. Rockwell Semiconductor Systems comprises five divisions -- Personal Computing, Network Access, Personal Imaging, Wireless Communications, and Digital Infotainment.

Personal Computing is a leading supplier of communications and media processing products for the PC. Network Access offers a broad line of high-bandwidth communications and networking devices including central site modems, xDSL, ATM and T1/E1 transceiver products. Digital Infotainment focuses on products for the digital consumer electronics information and entertainment markets.

Personal Imaging is the world leading supplier of devices for facsimile products and develops and manufactures semiconductors for multifunctional peripherals, printers, personal video and digital imaging products. Wireless Communications develops cordless and cellular chipsets, GPS, power amplifier and front end receiver components for all major wireless standards. The Electronic Commerce Division, based in Wood Dale, Ill., is a leading supplier of call center systems and personalized electronic commerce applications software.

Rockwell is a global electronics company with leadership positions in industrial automation, semiconductor systems, and avionics and communications, with projected FY97 sales of approximately $8 billion and 45,000 employees. Rockwell's world headquarters is located in Costa Mesa, in Orange County, Calif.

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