1997-03-13 , E/IC-601/650

Every year the software industry creates ever more sophisticated software that places more and more demands on the computer's processor; over the past few years sophisticated multimedia software has threatened to overwhelm the general purpose CPU (Central Processor Unit).

By harnessing the power of VLIW (very long instruction word) technology, Philips Semiconductors has created a solution, a new approach to multimedia called the TriMedia™ processor, which is now shipping in the TM-1000 version. A single programmable TriMedia processor can handle videoconferencing, MPEG encode and decode, 3D graphics and more.

Although the processor has its own real-time operating system, it can function as a coprocessor with the main processor chip of a personal computer and takes on the load of intensive multimedia applications and communications. By employing VLIW technology, it can deliver 4 billion operations per second at a 100 MHz, and achieve stunning multimedia performance including high quality MPEG2 playback; multichannel high fidelity audio, video conferencing, as well as concurrent communications processing. The media processing required for these tasks can overwhelm even the highest performance, general purpose CPUs found in today's PCs.

Because of Philips' breakthrough in VLIW compiler technology, it can price the TriMedia TM-1000 at only $50 in high volume quantities. The VLIW architecture allows the processor to handle up to five instructions in every clock cycle, reducing silicon cost and complexity.

'Multimedia is the hot topic for 1997,' explained Dion Lisle, PC Segment Marketing Manager for the TriMedia Product Group, 'Availability of the TriMedia TM-1000 could not have come at a better time. Already the TriMedia architecture has been chosen by Microsoft for its Talisman 3D real-time graphics initiative. Microsoft selected it because of its performance, floating point capability, and ease of programming. In addition, Apple has announced plans to use TriMedia processors with PowerPC systems. For more than 18 months, thirteen other leading PC and consumer electronics companies have been working with TriMedia engineers to develop products under our early access program for customers.'

The TriMedia TM-1000 can be used as a coprocessor in conjunction with any Pentium processor, PowerPC processors and others. Multiple TriMedia ICs can also be combined in multiprocessor configurations for more demanding multimedia applications such as broadcast quality video encoding.

The core technologies used in the TriMedia processor are the result of years of basic research in VLIW technology and digital signal processing conducted in Philips' world renown laboratories. The versatility and FLEXibility of the TriMedia processor come in large part from the system's compiler technology which allows developers to write new applications or port existing applications in C and C⁺⁺ programming languages, instead of the difficult to use machine or assembly level languages used in tradition digital signal processors. The TriMedia compiler even eliminates the need for machine language level performance tuning. The compiler has reduced the time required to port applications such as Dolby AC3 audio and MPEG 2 video code from man years to man weeks.

'Essentially, we are offering the best of two worlds,' explained Lisle. 'A media processor with the performance of DSP, and the application FLEXibility and easy programming of a general purpose CPU.'

Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Software Development Environment (SDE) provides a complete C/C⁺⁺ programming environment for easy application development and performance tuning. At the core of the SDE is a powerful compiler, which shifts the complexity of instruction scheduling from the hardware to the compiler. It reduces time-to-market and development costs, and is complemented by a growing list of software modules (including MPEG-2, V.34, H.324, AC3, MPEG 2 Multichannel Audio and Wavetable Synthesis) ready for use by developers in multimedia applications.

Philips has already announced plans for a complete family of TriMedia processors including variations specifically tailored for the Microsoft Talisman reference design, consumer electronics products, and a next-generation media processor with at least four times the performance of the TM-1000 in early 1999. The first 100 MHz TriMedia TM-1000, which is shipping now, will be followed by faster derivatives (133 MHz and 166 MHz) later this year. The TM-1000 has over 5.5 million transistors and is being manufactured in 0.35 micron technology at the company's state of the art wafer fab called MOS4YOU in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

The TriMedia Product Group is located in Sunnyvale, California. Philips Semiconductors, a division of Philips Electronics NV, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eleventh largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology, position the company as leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.

Further information can be found on Philips Semiconductors' web pages at  trimedia