Sierra Imaging Grabs Technology Lead in Digital Imaging Chips.SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 1997-- Offers Higher Integration of Desired Features, Greater Processing Speed See MHz. , Image Quality, Lower Power at 35 Percent Lower Cost Sierra Imaging Inc., the only company offering OEMs all the necessary components for digital still camera product success, today announced the first in a product line of multi-functional imaging chipsets, firmware and support tools offering an array of industry firsts. Named Raptor(TM) it is the first chipset including all the major functions needed to preview, capture, compress, store, transfer and display digital images. The three-chip set includes Sierra Imaging's DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. , a SPARC (Scalable Performance ARChitecture) A family of RISC CPUs from Sun that runs mostly under Sun's Solaris, but also under Linux and BSD operating systems. After development began in the mid-1980s by David Patterson of the University of California at Berkeley and Bill LITE(TM) RISC processor RISC processor [Reduced Instruction Set Computer], computer arithmetic-logic unit that uses a minimal instruction set, emphasizing the instructions used most often and optimizing them for the fastest possible execution. (MB86831) and an 8-bit microcontroller (MB89165) from Fujitsu Microelectronics. It is being designed into camera systems that will be in production in Q4 '97. The new chipset's high integration and performance allow its use in a wide range of cost-effective digital cameras and other consumer digital imaging products including printer/scanner/ copier/fax combinations and PDAs. The chipset offers versatility and programmability. It interfaces and controls a wide variety of image sensors up to 16 million pixels. It integrates video playback and processes imaging information faster than other products (240 million MACs/sec) resulting in more comprehensive execution of imaging processing algorithms. Raptor is also the first product in its class providing extensive power management capabilities. By licensing its ASIC-driven Adaptive Algorithm An adaptive algorithm is an algorithm which changes its behavior based on the resources available. For example, stable partition, using no additional memory is O(n lg n) but given O(n) memory, it can be O(n) in time. Technology, Sierra offers OEMs more design flexibility by optimally performing a wide variety of image processing and compression algorithms with Raptor. This allows fine-tuning of picture quality using a range of electronic sensors and optical components while achieving short photo cycle time. "Based on the needs of the camera, we've defined a best-of-breed solution," said Barbara Matthews, Sierra's vice president of marketing. "This is the first in a family of Sierra products serving high-growth markets." Important Features -- Image Transform Processor provides operations such as color interpolation interpolation In mathematics, estimation of a value between two known data points. A simple example is calculating the mean (see mean, median, and mode) of two population counts made 10 years apart to estimate the population in the fifth year. (de-mosaicizing), edge enhancement, color space conversion Changing one type of color-encoded signal into another. Converting from RGB to YUV and back to RGB are common color space conversions when working with video formats (see YUV). Converting from the display color space (RGB) to the printer color space (CMYK) is another common example. , image scaling and other pre- and user-defined image enhancements -- Double-buffered smart DMA (1) (Digital Media Adapter) See digital media hub. (2) (Document Management Alliance) A specification that provides a common interface for accessing and searching document databases. allowing pixel operations ranging from 40 to 58 million pixels per second -- Automatic interleaving/de-interleaving of color channels during processing saving processor time and bandwidth -- Low power composite video and native LCD mode display support -- Microcoded compression with hardware support providing sequential and progressive JPEG and other DCT-based algorithms -- JPEG JPEG in full Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard computer file format for storing graphic images in a compressed form for general use. JPEG images are compressed using a mathematical algorithm. 2000-ready -- Glueless 8-,16- or 32-bit interface to standard memory types -- Optimized 32-bit data path to standard EDO DRAM providing a peak data rate of 120Mbytes/sec -- Firmware development tools available directly from Sierra Imaging Price & Availability Raptor is priced at $30 in volume. Evaluation samples are available Q4 '97. About Sierra Imaging Founded in 1994, Sierra's products and system design expertise in partnership with world-class digital camera OEMs provide cost-effective, best-of-breed technology and obviously superior imaging quality. Sierra's camera technology is being used in several leading digital cameras today. Reach Sierra Imaging at www.sierraimaging.com . -0- Note to Editors: All trademarks and names are the property of their respective companies. CONTACT: Sierra Imaging Inc. Barbara Matthews, 408/461-2070 ext. 220 barbaram@sierraimaging.com or Marketing/PR Savvy Ford Kanzler, 650/726-1055 ford@prsavvy.com |
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