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New 1394/FireWire MPEG-2 Link-layer Controller is First to Offload Processing from Set-top Box CPU
"1394/FireWire is an important enabling technology as consumer electronics moves toward becoming all-digital," said Steve Schnier, TI's 1394 strategic marketing manager for consumer electronics. "For example, consumers will soon be able to record and view very high-quality, high-definition programming using a digital set-top box, digital video recorder, and digital TV -- and the connection between these will be 1394." "Additionally, a PC equipped with 1394 could import, edit and manipulate this audio and video information. Our complete line of 1394 physical and link layer chips, our digital signal processor (DSP) MPEG decoders, as well as our support expertise in 1394 will simplify the system designer's task considerably," Schnier said. The TSB12LV41 device, also known informally as MPEG2Lynx, features a multimode eight- or 16-bit interface that supports most microprocessors and microcontrollers available today. When the TSB12LV41 accepts decoded MPEG-2 data from the system's processor, it automatically inserts the required time-stamp, packet header and assembles 1394 packets in conformance with the proposed International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) 61883 standard. No other 1394 link layer device can offload all of these functions from the system's processor. The TSB12LV41's large FIFO (8K x 8-bit) can be logically partitioned as transmit and receive FIFOs of various sizes, depending upon the needs of the application. The device's memory is large enough to support bi-directional transmission of MPEG-2/DSS, asynchronous and isochronous data traffic. The isochronous data transfer mode is used by 1394 to guarantee bandwidth for real-time applications such as audio/video data or multimedia transmissions. Complete 1394 and DSP Solutions The TSB12LV41 device joins TI's growing family of 1394 link-layer and physical-layer devices. TI's physical-layer devices include a one-port 100 Mbps device, and two three-port devices, capable of 100 Mbps or 200 Mbps respectively. The TSB12LV41 will interface seamlessly to TI's TMS320AV7000 family of single-chip set-top box devices. The 'AV7000 family of DSP solutions is based on the TMS320 DSP, but also includes an integrated 32-bit RISC processor, MPEG-2 decoder, an advanced graphics accelerator and other capabilities needed for a complete set-top box implementation. To assist with design and development, an evaluation module for the 'AV7000 family is available from TI and its distributors. The evaluation module can be configured with a TSB12LV41 daughtercard, kit name TSBKMPEG2, to support and simplify 1394 development. Pricing and Availability The TSB12LV41 chip comes in a high-performance 100-pin thin quad flat pack (TQFP) carrier. The device is sampling now from Texas Instruments, and is scheduled to be available in quantities in the fourth quarter of 1997. Suggested resale pricing in quantities of 1,000 is $13.94 each.
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DALLAS (July 28, 1997)--1394/FireWire high-performance serial bus from Texas Instruments is the first in the industry to assemble Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) packets on-chip, offloading these tasks from the system's microprocessor or microcontroller. When used in set-top boxes (STBs), digital televisions or digital audio/video recording equipment, the device will configure MPEG-2 or Digital Satellite System (DSS) data for transport over 1394/FireWire at speeds up to 200 megabits per second (Mbps).
