Texas Instruments DaVinci DSP Technologies Doubles System Performance with a $40 System BOM Reduction for Video Security and Surveillance Applications

Texas Instruments DaVinci DSP Technologies Doubles System Performance with a $40 System BOM Reduction for Video Security and Surveillance Applications

May 29, 2007

New DaVinci(TM) Processors for Multi-channel Video Security
and Infrastructure Applications Provide Seamless Migration
Path and Codec Customization


    HOUSTON, TX., May 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Continuing
to drive innovation in the digital video market with
leading-edge silicon, software, tools and support, Texas
Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) has introduced
two new DaVinci(TM) technology digital signal processors
(DSPs) for multi-channel video security and infrastructure
applications, including digital video recorders (DVR), IP
video servers, machine vision systems and high-performance
imaging applications.  Based on TI's latest TMS320C64x+TM
DSP core, the TMS320DM647 and TMS320DM648 DSPs provide a
seamless migration path for existing video processing
applications based on the TMS320DM642, offering twice the
performance at a lower overall cost.  The new processors
integrate new functionalities leading to a $40 reduction in
video system bill of materials (BOM).  For more information,
please visit: http://www.ti.com/dm648pr .

    (Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/20061107170439-20.jpg )

    Combined, these innovations give customers the power to
create highly differentiated video systems products that can
process more channels simultaneously at a lower cost per
channel. Additionally, the programmable architecture of
DaVinci technology provides a framework for supporting
highly differentiated functionalities -- including dual
streaming, video analytics, customized codecs and emerging
compression standards -- which are difficult and
cost-prohibitive to implement in application specific
signal processor (ASSP)-based solutions.

    The network video surveillance market, a key target for
the new processors, jumped significantly in 2006 with a
notable 41.9 percent increase and is expected to grow for
several years reports IMS Research in their latest market
study.  

    "The market for network cameras has the potential
to grow even faster than this, however, new technologies
generally take a while to gain acceptance as the security
industry is very resistant to change," said Simon
Harris, research director for IMS Research.  "TI is
taking a proactive step towards overcoming this challenge
by educating the market about the many benefits of network
video surveillance with the introduction of DSPs that allow
customers to create complex network video applications, such
as network DVRs and NVRs, that feature advanced video
analytic technologies and have the flexibility to process
more video channels simultaneously.  The demand for hybrid
DVRs is growing as they allow customers to record both
analog and network cameras."

    Migration Path to Outstanding Price/Performance

    Maintaining its commitment to continually drive
innovation in digital video by designing silicon, software,
tools and support optimized to meet specific market needs,
TI recently released four TMS320DM643x processors providing
a 50 percent cost reduction for cost-sensitive applications
and three TMS320DM644x processors offering greater
integration for consumer media applications.  With the
DM647 and DM648 announced today, TI extends the original
DM64x product roadmap by delivering new high performance
DSPs that also benefit from the cost reduction and
integration of previous DaVinci processors.  

    "With improvements such as higher performance and
better code density, TI couldn't have made it easier -- or
more compelling -- for us to migrate to the DM648,"
said Hu Yangzhong, general manager, Hikvision.  "The
on-chip video and imaging coprocessor, video ports, and
integrated SGMII port all contribute to an impressive
reduction in system BOM cost.  Now we are able to double
the performance of our existing products while reducing our
overall manufacturing cost." 

    Customers also have access to production-ready
application software, the industry's most comprehensive
digital video development platform, and TI's extensive
network of Authorized Software Providers (ASP) to assist
developers in getting to market faster with more reliable
products.  The new DSPs are the first DaVinci processors
enabled by XDS560(TM) Trace module, a non-intrusive,
hardware-based trace tool offering advanced visibility and
capabilities for debugging the specialized problems that
arise in high-performance, real-time embedded applications.
 Trace can be further utilized to fine-tune code performance
and cache optimization of complex multi-channel
applications.

    Unparallel Performance and Flexibility

    Several innovations contribute to the DM648 DSP's
two-fold increase in performance when compared to the DM642
processor.  The C64x+ core provides 20 percent better cycle
performance, 20 to 30 percent higher code density, twice as
many 16-bit MMACs per cycle, four times the EDMA bandwidth
and is 100 percent code compatible with the C64xTM core. 
The DM648's increase in clock speed and faster H.264
processing due to the integrated Video and Imaging
Coprocessor (VICP) increases performance at almost the same
price as the DM642. 

    The new processor reduces system BOM by more than $40
compared to the DM642 processor: two extra video ports
remove the need for a $7 video multiplexer, the integrated
SGMII port with switch interconnects up to four devices to
provide the functionality of an $8 PCI bridge, and an
approximately $25 FPGA required for video preprocessing
like color space conversion, resizing, de-interlacing, etc.
is eliminated by an on-chip VICP.  With the extended
functionality and programmability of TI DSPs, designers can
eliminate the need to consider expensive and constraining
FPGAs and can instead focus their resources on further
product differentiation.  The DM648 offers 512 KB of L2
cache and two Ethernet MACs with a switch while the DM647
has 256 KB of L2 cache and one Ethernet MAC port.

    The new processors also support dual streaming,
allowing both a monitoring and a recording stream for every
video channel.  Dual streaming is a critical feature for
digital video applications since high-quality streams
recorded to hard disk drives (HDD) or network-attached
storage (NAS) require different processing than lower
quality monitoring streams intended for immediate viewing
in the security control booth.

    The high performance DM647 and DM648 DSPs further
extend the ways in which developers can differentiate their
products through sophisticated features and functionality. 
TI and members of its DSP Third Party Network provide
leading-edge video analytics technology -- including object
recognition and tracking -- as well as support for
customizing codecs to implement security-specific
modifications, such as adjusting bit rate and quality or
providing codec information for security identification.
Additional optimized codecs and a video security media
system that offer multi-channel, high resolution and low
latency features are also available from Ittiam Systems.

    The VICP, an instruction-based engine that provides
front-end preprocessing, works in parallel to the main DSP
core and includes the VICP Functional Library with
efficient color-space conversion, image resizing and
de-interlacing functionality.  It will be available with
the release of the Beta-version DM648 Digital Video
Development Platform (DVDP), which has multi-channel
codecs, all the software necessary to build a complete
video processing system, and DM648-based hardware developed
by industry leader Lyrtech.  The DVDP also utilizes
complementary components, including the TVP5154 video
decoder from TI, and provides an efficient platform for
evaluation of DaVinci technology to jumpstart product
development.  

    Availability and Pricing

    Sampling in June, the 720 MHz version of the
TMS320DM647 DSP will cost $39.95 with the TMS320DM648 DSP
priced at $49.95 in quantities of 10,000 units.  The Beta
DVDP will be available in early 3Q 2007 and will quickly be
followed by general availability of the DVDP, through TI's
worldwide distribution channels.

    Additional Information

    TMS320DM647 Product Folder and Datasheet
    TMS320DM648 Product Folder and Datasheet
    XDS560 Trace Module Tool Folder
    DM6437 Digital Video Development Platform (DVDP) Tool
Folder
    TVP5154 Product Folder and Datasheet

    About Texas Instruments

    Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP
and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world
signal processing requirements. In addition to
Semiconductor, the company includes the Educational &
Productivity Solutions business. TI is headquartered in
Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales
operations in more than 25 countries. 

    Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located
on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com 

    Trademarks

    DaVinci, TMS320C64x+, C64x+ and XDS560 are trademarks
of Texas Instruments.  All other trademarks and registered
trademarks are property of their respective owners.


    For more information, please contact: 

    Tim Frost	
    Texas Instruments	
    Tel:   [phone]	
    Email: [e-mail]

    Helen Tso	
    GolinHarris	
    Tel:   [phone]	
    Email: [e-mail]