IBM Announces World's First MPEG-2 Digital Video Single-Chip Encoder

FISHKILL, N.Y., March 28, 1995 . . . IBM has introduced the world's first
commercially available semiconductor chip that can compress, or encode,
the large amounts of data required to transmit and store digital video
pictures, frame by frame. The power to do encoding on a single chip will
make it more cost effective for movie makers to design special effects,
for broadcasters to transmit video across cable and satellite networks and
for office workers to design eye-catching business presentations.

The chip is called the IBM MPEG-2 I-Frame Encoder, after Moving Pictures
Experts Group, a working group of the International Standards
Organization, that has developed the primary standard for transmitting
digital audio and video signals. I-frame refers to the "intra-frames" used
in high-speed compression and decompression. IBM's single-chip video
encoder will significantly bring down the cost of MPEG-2 I-frame video
compression.

At the same time, IBM also introduced its enhanced MPEG-2 Decoder chip
aimed at the consumer electronics market for products that, among other
things, bring enhanced functions to PCs and televisions, as multimedia
applications begin to blur the roles of those devices.

For example, the encoder and decoder devices could appear on video cards
with additional editing features and that could be plugged into desktop
PCs to perform multimedia functions. Such multimedia cards could be
purchased and used for professional editing situations: the video playback
could be used to edit a commercial for television, or to combine video
pictures with sound to sell a house.

The same video decoder chips could also appear in interactive televisions'
digital set-top boxes to provide movies on demand or to play interactive
video games; or in consumer products that will allow video CD-ROMS to be
played on a computer; or in future generations of VCRs.

Together, IBM's MPEG-2 I-Frame Encoder and MPEG-2 Decoder provide a
"matched set" of chips that compress video data at one end and decompress
it at the receiving end. The chips will be sold to original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) for use in their products or for new applications.
Both products are also compatible with the earlier MPEG-1 standard. The
encoder and decoder will be demonstrated at the upcoming conference of the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) from April 10-13 in Las Vegas.

Data compression and decompression are becoming increasingly important to
such industries as the broadcast, movie and telephone businesses, which
require larger storage facilities for digital images and more bandwidth
for the transmission of digital video pictures and audio. The techniques
of compressing, or encoding data at one end, and then decompressing, or
decoding data at the receiving end, are particularly suited for digital
video.

"IBM is committed to delivering advanced, cost-competitive digital video
products to the professional video and consumer electronics markets," said
Frank Zurla, product manager, digital video products, IBM
Microelectronics. "These MPEG-2 devices give the digital marketplace a
powerful set of chips that provide real-time solutions for encoding and
decoding with the best possible video quality."

The sophisticated MPEG-2 compression and decompression algorithms used in
these products were jointly developed by the IBM Microelectronics and IBM
Research divisions. Dr. Cesar Gonzales, senior manager, video and image
technologies, IBM Research, said, "The low cost of this encoder will
enable the creation of MPEG-2 content, such as movies or interactive video
applications, at costs that are no longer prohibitive."

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY:

Both MPEG-2 chips use IBM CMOS 5L technology, are 0.5 micron and 3.3 volts.
The encoder, packaged in a 304-pin ceramic quad flat pack (CQFP), costs
$700 per unit in OEM quantities of less than 50. General availability is
scheduled for July. The decoder, packaged in a 208-pin CQFP, is priced at
less than $35 per unit in set-top box quantities. General availability is
expected in April.

IBM, headquartered in Armonk, N.Y., is a supplier of integrated
microelectronics technologies to a growing number of companies worldwide.
Its products range from semiconductor design and fabrication to complete
and fully tested functional assemblies. IBM Microelectronics,
headquartered in Fishkill, N.Y., is responsible for developing,
manufacturing, marketing and selling these products and technologies.

Readers interested in additional information on IBM Microelectronics'
Digital Video offerings should call 1-800-IBM-0181, extension 1503.

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