SGS-THOMSON Working With Macrovision to Supply Anticopy Test Hardware to TV Makers

Board based on STV0119 PAL/NTSC Encoder IC generates Macrovision Revision 7 test signals to verify TV designs. Chip designed for DVD players and set top boxes.

Grenoble, 13 February 1997 --SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics and Macrovision Corporation have worked together to develop copy protection signal generation equipment for TV makers worldwide. With this hardware TV makers can verify that their TV set designs are compatible with the new Macrovision Revision 7 anticopy system, adopted as the standard for Digital Video Disk (DVD) players. This equipment is available immediately from SGS-THOMSON.

SGS-THOMSON's signal generation board is based on the company's STV0119 integrated digital encoder circuit -- the first on the market to offer full compliance with the Macrovision Revision 7 standard for both NTSC and PAL standards. The STV0119 transforms digital video signals into a composite analog signal for connection to TVs and can be used at the output of all consumer digital equipment: DVD players, PC DVD boards, digital set top boxes, video CD players and video game consoles. In addition to this basic function it includes circuits for closed captioning, teletext, copy generation management teletext encoding and the Macrovision anticopy system. Composite (CVBS, Y & C) and component (RGB) outputs are provided.

"Our close co-operation with Macrovision in the implementation of Revision 7 underscores the commitment of SGS-THOMSON to the DVD market", commented Jean-Pierre Lusinchi, General Manager of SGS-THOMSON's Video Division. "Our long experience in all of the key technologies means we can deliver solutions with optimized performance in line with market needs"

SThanks to the compact and easy-to-use SO-28 package the STV0119 saves on packaging costs and board area. This saving is especially useful in systems where two digital encoders are used, one for the TV output and a second -- without on-screen display -- for simultaneous recording of clean images, whenever recording is allowed.

Macrovision's Revision 7 anticopy system addresses the problem of Digital Video Disk producers concerned that the high quality of the signal might encourage home copying onto cassettes. It modifies the video signal coming out of the DVD player so that it can be viewed on a TV set but when it is recorded on a VCR the picture is seriously degraded on playback. "We are pleased to have worked with SGS-THOMSON to make possible the availability of this signal generation system," said Mark Belinsky, Macrovision's Copy Protection Group Vice President. "As we work with major consumer electronics manufacturers worldwide to implement the NTSC implementation of the Macrovision Revision 7 anticopy system and to finalize the PAL implementation, this system will allow product development and compatibility testing to proceed in a very efficient manner and contribute to earlier product launches worldwide."

SGS-THOMSON's signal generator board, part number EVAL0119, is available now; the STV0119 integrated circuit is available in sample quantities and will be in full production by February 1997. The company indicates a price of $4 in quantities of 10,000 and above for the IC and $500 for the board.

Digital Video Disk (sometimes called Digital Versatile Disk) is the most important breakthrough in consumer electronics since the camcorder. With CD-size disks consumers will be able to view full length movies with high quality video and sound. The same format can also be used for high capacity CD-ROM use. Consumer players and disks will be widely available in 1997.

The STV0119 joins SGS-THOMSON's broad range of integrated circuits for DVD and set top box applications. The multichip solution already available includes the STi3520A MPEG2 Video/Audio decoder, the ST20 32-bit RISC/transport and the STi4600 Dolby AC-3 decoder. A single-chip "superintegrated" decoder engine is already sampling and will be available later in 1997.

SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics is a global independent semiconductor supplier listed on the New York Stock Exchange and on the Bourse de Paris. It designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide array of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems.

Macrovision Corporation develops and markets technologies to protect the interests of content providers in the distribution of video and audio programming. The company offers products and services for the home video, pay-per-view, cable, satellite, theatrical and corporate communications markets. Macrovision has subsidiaries in London and Tokyo, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

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