30.06.2008

Renesas Technology Corp. has released the SH-MobileUL2 (SH7366) application processor that delivers an enhanced cost-performance ratio for mobile phones incorporating multimedia processing functions.

The SH-MobileUL2 boosts the video processing performance of its predecessor such as the SH-MobileUL and SH-MobileL3V, by approximately 30 percent and helps reduce overall system cost by integrating peripheral device functions such as a USB 2.0 interface.

The new application processor integrates a video processing unit (VPU) high-performance video processing IP that supports the H.264 standard used for terrestrial digital broadcasting in Japan and the MPEG4 moving image compression standard used by camcorders and video phones, realizing high-speed encoding and decoding with low power consumption. This allows the CPU to perform other processing when H.264 video data is being processed by the VPU, enabling the operating frequency to be kept low and contributing to reduced power consumption.

The new processor also includes an on-chip USB 2.0 interface and DAC for TV output contributing to reduced system cost. In addition, the device is housed in a 284-pin BGA package measuring 8mm x 10mm. It is designed to be paired with a single System-in-Package (SiP) external memory device containing either 128Mbit or 256Mbit DDR1 mobile RAM. This contributes to system compactness and reduces the current consumption during memory accesses.

The SH-MobileUL2 is built around the SH4AL-DSP CPU core, which delivers high processing performance of 478 MIPS at the maximum operating frequency of 266MHz and is capable of running many different types of applications at high speed.

In addition to the above, the SH-MobileUL2 provides the following on-chip peripheral functions, which were not implemented in the SH-MobileUL:

Camera interface for direct connection of a 5MPixel camera module
The camera interface enables high-speed reading in of large-volume image data from a high-resolution camera and makes possible a variety of display features, including electronic zoom display of images and superimposed image display employing on-screen display or hardware cursor functionality.

Support for BT.709 format YUV data compatible with OneSeg broadcasting in Japan
This makes it possible to capture screenshots from TV broadcasts and convert them into JPEG images with no loss in picture quality.

A variety of other on-chip peripheral functions suited to mobile phone systems are also provided, including LCD controller supporting TFT color LCD panels, SD memory card interface, CE-ATA hard disk interface for mobile phones and a sound interface.

© Source: www.eetasia.com