Sigma Designs introduces single-chip MPEG decoder and scalar for home PC market; turnkey reference design kit enables board manufacturers to offer very low-cost video playback cards in time for the Christmas season.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 1996--Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :SIGM), a leading manufacturer of MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). interactive multimedia components, today announced an MPEG chip for PC applications that integrates MPEG-1 audio & video decoding, X-Y scaling and direct ISA (1) (Instruction Set Architecture) See instruction set. (2) (Interactive Services Association) See Internet Alliance. (3) (Internet Security and Acceleration) See .NET. plug-and-play interface in a single device. The chip, called the REALmagic EM8000, will be sold as part of a new Sigma chipset that will drive down the cost of hardware MPEG playback and bring high-quality full-motion video Video transmission that changes the image 30 frames per second (30 fps). Motion pictures are run at 24 fps, which is the minimum frequency required to eliminate the perception of moving frames and make the images appear visually fluid to the eye. to the mass market for the first time. Playback boards based on Sigma's new chip will permit home-PC users to benefit from the growing number of entertainment, training and education materials available on video CD. "Interactive digital video is on the rise in the home market with video CD and live TV applications," said Prem Talreja, Vice President of Marketing for Sigma Designs. "Our reference design kits based on the REALmagic EM8000 integrated MPEG decoder Software or hardware that decompresses and renders MPEG-encoded data. Because MPEG uses lossy compression, the decoded images are not 100% identical to the original. In most cases however, the differences are not easily detectable. See MPEG. and scalar offer integration and functionality that will drive down the cost of hardware to reach the mass market that wants to play interactive video games See video game console. or integrate the PC with TV in the living room." Sigma's reference design enables board manufacturers to provide a low-cost, high-performance MPEG solution for the vast installed base of 486 and Pentium PCs. Software video players traditionally have been less expensive than hardware solutions like Sigma's, but software MPEG is not an option in older PCs because of system limitations, and it remains less desirable even in newer systems because of problems such as jerky jerky see biltong. motion, poor video quality, crackling audio and the inability to work with DOS and interactive applications and games important to home users. The new Sigma solution provides superior features at a competitive price. REALmagic EM8000 Integrated MPEG Decoder/Scalar The REALmagic EM8000 chip combines a new Sigma MPEG1 video and audio decoder with Sigma's proven X-Y scaling technology for smooth horizontal and vertical bilinear interpolation, permitting display of clear video images in any size from a postage-stamp-type icon to a full-screen display. The chip has a built-in direct interface to ISA-bus, making it compatible with the installed base of PCs, and offers complete plug-and-play compatibility to enable development of low-cost playback boards for the upgrade market. This single chip performs functions that previously required several separate components. It supports variable video frame rates up to 120 Hz without any additional field memory. The video module of the chip decompresses the video input, accepts the decompressed data from the local DRAM, and outputs it as horizontally and vertically interpolated interpolated /in·ter·po·lat·ed/ (in-ter´po-la?ted) inserted between other elements or parts. YUV The color encoding system used for analog television worldwide (NTSC, PAL and SECAM). The YUV color space (color model) differs from RGB, which is what the camera captures and what humans view. or RGB (Red Green Blue) The computer's native color space, which is the color system for capturing and displaying images. RGB was derived from our own perception of color because human eyes are sensitive to red, green and blue (see trichromaticity). pixels. It provides 16 million (24-bit) MPEG playback accelerated to a guaranteed 30 frames per second. The audio module supports decoding of MPEG-1 Layer I and II audio streams for serial 16-bit CD quality stereo audio output at sampling frequencies of 32 KHz, 44.1 KHz and 48 KHz. REALmagic PC-MPEG Reference Design The new Sigma REALmagic PC-MPEG reference design is based on the new EM8000 decoding and scaling chip, resulting in a compact design that reduces the real estate required to produce MPEG playback cards. The reference design also uses the company's breakthrough REAL Analog Overlay chip for mixing MPEG video and PC graphics at the high resolutions demanded by end users. The chipset permits video and graphics displays at resolutions of up to 1600 x 1200 with an 85 Hz refresh rate, eliminates the need for a feature connector that often causes compatibility problems and offers guaranteed compatibility with all graphics cards. The reference design is a complete OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and manufacturing kit that includes the REALmagic MPEG playback reference design card, REALmagic drivers, REALmagic PC-MPEG set specifications, schematics and BOM, CD Station applet and sample user's manual. Using the Sigma Designs chipsets and drivers guarantees 100% compliance with Windows 95 and MPC (1) (Mobile PC) A handheld or laptop computer. See handheld computer, laptop computer and Ultra-Mobile PC. (2) (MultiPath Channel) See multipath. 3, plus full compatibility with the OM-1 standard for MPEG products and with the hundreds of REALmagic MPEG interactive games and applications currently on the market. Availability The REALmagic EM8000 is sampling now and is available with complete evaluation boards and reference design kit. The unit price is $41 in 1,000 piece quantity. For more information, call 510/770-0100, fax 510/770-2630, or visit the company's Web site at http://www.sigmadesigns.com. Company Background Founded in 1982, Sigma Designs Inc. specializes in products based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group (compression, standard, algorithm, file format, body) Moving Picture Experts Group - (MPEG, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29 WG11) An ISO committee that generates standards for digital video compression and audio. Also the name of their algorithms. ) standard for compressing and decompressing de·com·press v. de·com·pressed, de·com·press·ing, de·com·press·es v.tr. 1. To relieve of pressure or compression. 2. digital audio and video signals. Sigma has been a driving force behind the advancement of the MPEG technology used in most of the multimedia PCs on the market today. The EM8000 and PC-MPEG Chipsets are the latest developments in a new company strategy to expand Sigma's presence in the marketplace by adding MPEG chipsets designed for computer and add-on card manufacturers to other MPEG products the company manufactures for vertical applications and multimedia developers. Sigma's first entry in the chipset marketplace was the REALmagic Pro Chipset, introduced in late 1995. Its second was the REALmagic Explorer chipset, the first chipset to permit the delivery of MPEG digital video to notebook computers through PCMCIA cards using the new Zoomed Video (ZV) port standard. The Explorer chipset is being incorporated in a new MPEG PC Card designed for use with the new Toshiba Tecra 720CDT CDT abbr. Central Daylight Time CDT Central Daylight Time CDT n abbr (US) (= Central Daylight Time) → hora de verano del centro; (BRIT multimedia notebook computer. Sigma's products also include 2D/3D graphics chips and the industry's richest line of MPEG software titles. All Sigma Designs products are sold worldwide through a direct sales force, representatives and distributors. The company is based in Fremont, Calif. -0- Note to Editors: Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the timely introduction and market acceptance of Sigma's new products, the impacts of competitive products and pricing and the other risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended Jan. 31, 1996. CONTACT: Sigma Designs Inc. Lauren Finkelman, 847/291-1616 Ext. 249 Fax: 847/291-1758 76225.2253@compuserve.com |
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