SGS-THOMSON delivers four millionth MPEG decoder IC and starts volume shipments of STI3520 combined audio/video decoder

SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics has shipped its four millionth MPEG decoder integrated circuit and started volume shipments of its latest product, the STI3520 combined audio/video MPEG-2 decoder.

"After our early start in this market, we have successfully consolidated our leadership position through design wins in the major, volume MPEG markets", explained Guy Lauvergeon, director of SGS-THOMSON's Image Processing Business Unit. "We are the only company who has shipped this many MPEG decoder ICs and this experience has made a key contribution to the competitiveness of our products in terms of performance, quality and price."

The latest decoder IC to enter volume production is the STI3520, which is believed to be the first combined MPEG-2 audio and video decoder to enter volume production. Launched earlier this year, the STI3520 has been designed for second generation digital set-top box applications and new TV services based on the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) system SGS-THOMSON's position in the market for these devices was recently confirmed by an industry report* that verified the company is the undisputed leader in unit shipments of MPEG-2 decoders. Many of the manufacturers of set-top boxes, including Thomson Multimedia, which markets its DirecTVÖ products under the RCA brand, are using the STI3520, and its predecessor, the STI3500A, in their volume production.

* MPEG Technology, Products and Market, Semico Research Corp., September 1995

DirecTV is a trademark of Hughes Communications

Notes to editors

MPEG decoder ICs can be found in high performance multimedia Personal Computers plus a new generation of consumer products that bring hundreds of channels of digital TV to people throughout the US and will make it possible to squeeze a full length feature film onto a 12cm (5-inch) compact disk.

SGS-THOMSON pioneered the technology used in these applications starting in the late 1980s and was the first company to introduce landmark products such as the first Discrete Cosine Transform processor IC, the first motion estimation processor IC and the first combined MPEG-2 audio/video decoder. To date the company has sold more MPEG decoder ICs than any other company in the world.

Another factor contributing to the success of SGS-THOMSON in this field is that the company bases MPEG decoder ICs on a basic core technology that applies a "hardwired" approach, rather than a programmed solution. Though more difficult at first, this approach ensures that large volumes can be produced at "consumer" prices. Hardwired solutions also reduce power consumption -- a critical performance factor for laptop computers.

Top