Automotive Mobile Audio Video

Designed as companion chip to application processor on mobile phones, single-chip uPD99910 integrates CPU and DSP that appropriate and optimize music playback function of application processor to conserve power and extended listening period. In addition to SD Memory Card interface, product provides interface dedicated to copyright protection media and supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) copyright protection technology.

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Enables 50 Hours of Continuous Music Playback on Mobile Phones

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 20 / -- NEC Electronics America, Inc. today announced the launch of the first product in the company's new AP series of audio processors that enables 50 hours of continuous music playback on mobile phones. The single-chip uPD99910 audio processor integrates a central processing unit (CPU) and digital signal processor (DSP) dedicated to music playback and an interface dedicated to copyright protection media.

Designed to be a companion chip to an application processor, NEC Electronics' uPD99910 device appropriates and optimizes the music playback function of the application processor, incorporates an SD Memory Card interface and supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) copyright protection technology whose SD-Audio function enables music data to be downloaded and played without copyright infringement. The power saved by having the playback-dedicated CPU and DSP operate in place of the application processor allows 50 hours of continuous music to be played back using existing resources such as user interface software. By having these features integrated on a single chip, the new processor allows manufacturers to enhance mobile phone performance while reducing time to market and costs. The functional sophistication of mobile phones continues to increase, and music playback is one of the most popular functions to emerge recently. Current mobile phones tend to realize the music playback function through the application processor, which consumes a lot of power and makes it difficult to play music for any length of time," said Kugao Ouchi, general manager, digital consumer and connectivity strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America. "With the new uPD99910 audio processor, NEC Electronics America is able to offer mobile phone manufacturers a cost-effective solution that enables them to design in a wide range of music playback functions without compromising performance."

In previous mobile phone models, the CPU and DSP in the application processor were used to play back music and also for other types of processing, including video processing. As a result, the application processor's high performance came at the expense of power efficiency. With a CPU and DSP dedicated to music playback, NEC Electronics' uPD99910 audio processor does not need to engage the application processor and is able to provide 50 hours of continuous music playback using a battery with the same capacity as current battery models-a 10-fold improvement.

The rapid spread of service providers selling high-quality music content has given rise to a number of issues, such as how to protect the copyright of the purchased content while allowing customers to play the content effectively. NEC Electronics' uPD99910 audio processor's on-chip interface for an SD Memory Card, a small-scale memory card that includes a copyright protection function, enables manufacturers to develop mobile phones that support various SD Memory Card functions, including SD-Binding, whereby purchased content can be transferred from an old machine to a new one using the same SD Memory Card.

Renesas Technology Corp. today announced its decision to incorporate Microsoft Corp.'s digital audio and video codec technology, Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series, and RealNetworks' Inc.'s digital audio and video codec technologies, RealAudio(R) 10 /RealVideo(R) 10, into the SH-Mobile Series of application processors for next-generation mobile phone systems.

These two technologies are widely used in such devices as PCs, PDAs and portable players, and their inclusion in the SH-Mobile, one of the world-leading application processors, will enable them to be installed in mobile phones, greatly increasing their market penetration. Meanwhile, for Renesas Technology, having the SH-Mobile implementation of these two technologies in a mobile phone system will make it possible to support multimedia content player functions and distribution services, and offer optimal solutions for simple construction of systems linked to information devices such as personal computers, to meet the constantly growing demand for multimedia services in the mobile phone market.

In the initial production phase, the SH-Mobile software product based on Windows Media Audio 9 Series technology is to go on sale in March 2004. The features of this product are as follows.

(1) Software decoder supporting Windows Media Audio 9

(2) Processing optimized for the SH-Mobile (40 MHz CPU load in 128

kbps/44.1 kHz/stereo data case)

(3) System and application building simplified by provision of

C-language interface

Following on from inclusion Windows Media Audio 9, Renesas Technology plans to include support for Windows Media Video 9, RealAudio 10 and RealVideo 10 technology based products in the near future.

Renesas Technology will continue to release SH-Mobile Series models in line with mobile phone developments, and to respond to customer needs by expanding our range of support to offer enhanced solutions to a variety of multimedia demands.

About Renesas Technology's SH-Mobile

Renesas Technology's SH-Mobile is a flexible application accelerator that provides multimedia support for next-generation cellular phone communications. Unlike a traditional baseband CPU method that uses a single CPU to manage both signal and application processing, the SH-Mobile design approach uses a dual CPU architecture that dedicates one CPU to application execution in order to maximize communication performance. Built on Renesas' popular SuperH 32-bit RISC superscalar architecture, SH-Mobile devices offers compelling functionality such as the JPEG, MP3, acoustic echo canceller, AMR codec, MPEG4 encode/decode and Java Virtual Machine capabilities that are essential for supporting the high-end multimedia applications of next generation mobile phones.

Winegard Company has recently established DATA TECH, LLC, a new company dedicated to mobile Internet antennae products. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, DATA TECH will develop technologies and associated products that deliver Internet and data communications within the domestic and international mobile markets.

"Just as the Internet has transformed modern day living over the last 15 years, mobility of the Internet and all of its applications will revolutionize the 21st century for business and consumer alike," states Randy Winegard, President/CEO of Winegard Company. "We are excited to be at the forefront of this market."

DATA TECH will launch its first product, a nomadic/mobile Internet antennae system designed for virtually any satellite send and receive platform, in the fall of 2004. This flagship product, available in a .74, .75, and 1.2 mobile antennae solution, will provide a user-friendly environment with rapid signal acquisition, and will be in full compliance with all FCC regulations for sending and transmitting in a mobile environment.

"Mobile Internet technology is all about the freedom and affordability of high speed communication, anytime, anywhere," says DATA TECH President Reed Brown. "People are constantly on the go and are in continual need of access to information. We will be offering these products to Winegard's recreational vehicle and automotive customers, and to newer market segments as well."
The mobile aspect of these new antennas provides unlimited opportunities such as remote news gatherings, mobile command centers, mobile medical centers, mobile broadband and video conferencing for all industries, with new applications being created every day," adds DATA TECH Vice President Chuck Uhl, a veteran of the satellite industry for more than 30 years.

While Winegard is already widely recognized as the leading producer of off air and satellite antennae systems, the formation of DATA TECH will help secure its place as a worldwide mobile VSAT antennae system provider, by offering two-way, real-time IP, video, voice, audio, and data communication for specialty applications.