STMicroelectronics Unveils High-Performance System-on-Chip for Next Generation of Integrated Broadcast and Broadband-Internet Digital TVs

STMicroelectronics Unveils High-Performance System-on-Chip for Next Generation of Integrated Broadcast and Broadband-Internet Digital TVs

Consumer equipment makers to benefit from highly integrated chip with world-class Faroudja(TM) video/audio enhancements, delivering full high-definition digital TV processing and accelerated Internet TV support

GENEVA, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), one of the world's largest semiconductor companies and a leader in chips for set-top boxes and digital TVs, today announced the launch of a new generation of high-performance, full high-definition (FHD) H.264/MPEG System-on-Chip (SoC) ICs for the worldwide flat-panel digital TV (DTV) market. Next-generation TVs powered by the new SoCs will enable compelling services and new business models for premium content, and deliver a rich and intuitive user experience.

The FLI7510 is the first member of the new family (codenamed 'Freeman') of performance- and software-scalable SoCs, addressing mainstream and high-end segments of the DTV market. Additionally, the FLI7510 is designed to meet the increasingly stringent system-energy consumption standards for 'green' consumer electronics equipment.

Addressing both the digital broadcast and fast-emerging broadband-Internet TV markets, the FLI7510 SoC is the culmination of the integration of world-class technologies from ST's industry-leading set-top-box chips and the Emmy Award winning Faroudja(TM) video processing technologies from Genesis Microchip, which ST acquired in 2008.

"The introduction of this next-generation SoC is a major milestone that further bolsters ST's leadership in digital lifestyle solutions," said Luigi Mantellassi, General Manager of ST's TV and Monitor Division. "The FLI7510 builds upon an industry-leading scalable architecture that has been deployed in many consumer electronics products. The chip powerfully supports a common global chassis approach to TV design and enables a new class of TV products offering exciting new user-interface capabilities. Together with additional members of the 'Freeman' family, which will be introduced in 2010, the FLI7510 sets a new market reference in terms of system, audio, video and graphics performance for Internet TV applications."

Compatible with digital terrestrial TV standards worldwide, the FLI7510 comprises an extensive portfolio of industry-leading capabilities including:

-- Flexible and powerful decoder, providing support for all major video
content formats;
-- World-class Faroudja-optimized video and audio processing;
-- Internet TV ready environment including fully dedicated application
processor and advanced graphics capabilities;
-- Content protection via secure processor supporting major standards;
-- Field-proven, high-level API (application programming interface) for
accelerated time-to-market for TV OEMs.

Availability and Pricing

The FLI7510 SoC is now sampling to qualified customers. Pricing is available upon request. The FLI7510 will be demonstrated at ST's private demo suite for customers at CES 2010 in Las Vegas.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2008, the Company's net revenues were $9.84 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

Faroudja(TM) and related trademarks are property of STMicroelectronics.

Further Information on the Advanced Technologies of the FLI7510

-- Dedicated, Multi-Format Video Decoder - ST's leadership position in
the MPEG IC market has produced a field-proven, flexible, multi-format
decoder which is deployed in millions of set-top boxes cable as well
as in digital TVs. Continuing the evolution path in this IP, the
latest version includes native decode support for all leading video
content formats such as high definition MPEG-2, H.264, VC1, AVS and
DivX(TM), as well as blazing JPEG decode.

-- Dedicated, Dual Programmable Audio DSPs - New levels of audio
performance are now possible with FLI7510. With a large library of
name brand and ST proprietary, standard as well as post-processing
algorithms available for TV OEMs to choose from, the FLI7510 brings
digital audio processing to the forefront.

-- Security Processor - Allows content owners and TV OEMs to confidently
proliferate rich compelling content to FLI7510-based TVs operating in
a trusted and secured environment. The FLI7510 fully supports
emerging security standards such as DVB-CI+, allows full compliance
with DRM robustness rules while providing hardware acceleration to
offload the main application processor.

-- Faroudja Video Optimized - Leveraging Faroudja's 35 years of home
theater display expertise, the latest innovations include:

-- Leading analog video capture/decoder/processor elevates legacy
analog content to a stellar quality level suited for large,
full high definition displays

-- Faroudja 14-bit color/contrast processing is the industry's
leading performance for DTV SoC delivers outstanding and
precise fidelity on high performance FHD TV panels. This
accurate processing maximizes the rendition of content with
xv.YCC and deep color encoding. Precise color re-mapping tools
allow TV OEMs to render image characteristics to their
proprietary preferences.

-- Faroudja Movie Theme - FLI7510-powered FHD TVs can be equipped
with a pre-calibrated theme easily accessible by the consumer.
This theme delivers an immersive experience with more natural
and life-like results from Blu-ray and other high definition
content.

-- Faroudja Video Tuning Tools - Critically important for
successful deployment of advanced video processing
technologies is a flexible suite of tools which allow TV OEMs
to rapidly prototype and customize to their video quality
needs. To this end, the Faroudja video quality tuning
application allows for access to detailed FLI7510 video
personalization parameters in a real-time, easy-to-use PC-
based graphical user interface environment. As well, a
powerful capability to inject TV OEMs' proprietary, real-time,
frame-by-frame, adaptive video quality algorithms inside
FLI7510 is supported, fulfilling a long sought-after
capability for differentiation.
-- Faroudja Audio Optimized - This unique capability delivers
unprecedented stereo audio fidelity from standard TV speakers, not
only allows TV OEMs to reduce bill-of-materials cost, but also allows
aggressive styling of the TV chassis and bezel designs in an
attractive, slim profile. Faroudja Audio Optimized, quickly and easily
implemented once per TV model, is the industry's first equalization
technique based on a FIR filter design and proprietary algorithms that
correct both amplitude and phase deficiencies in the loudspeaker
stereo response profile.

-- Internet TV-Ready - An optimized Linux environment leveraging a fully
dedicated application processor plus accelerated A/V decoders,
graphics engine, and security processor, enables FLI7510-based TVs to
deliver rich, interactive applications for convenient access to
multimedia content, both from within the home and from the Internet.
ST's strong relationships with popular Internet TV service and
technology providers give TV OEMs a fast ramp-up to deliver compelling
value-add content to the living room.

-- Board Support Package (BSP) - A field-proven, high-level application
programming interface provides a wealth of capability and accelerated
time-to-market for TV OEMs. The FLI7510's BSP is designed to unify
deployment into the fragmented, worldwide DTV market, incorporating
many commonly needed software modules to allow TV OEMs to focus their
efforts on their differentiation ideas rather than on foundation-level
software. The BSP also enables quick launch of value-add features like
Internet TV, DVR, and enhanced media player.

Source: STMicroelectronics

CONTACT: Michael Markowitz of STMicroelectronics, +1-781-591-0354,
michael.markowitz@st.com

Web Site: http://www.st.com/

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