1997-08-29 , ESC-9732

Business
Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Product Group has established a new architecture for consumer multimedia applications. Video conferencing and telephony devices, multimedia personal computers, and upcoming digital televisions all require high performance processors developed specifically for multimedia data and communications. Philips Semiconductors has brought to market a programmable media processor that concurrently processes multiple data types, including audio, video, graphics and communications, for a new generation of consumer electronic devices.

Product Family
The TM-1000 is the first media processor in the TriMedia product family and is targeted for both the consumer and personal computer markets. It is designed to bring simultaneous sound, video and communications to consumer electronics and personal computers. Philips Semiconductors is able to offer a total solution for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) customers that combines silicon, a suite of integrated software development tools, and a library of application software (such as video encode, decode and communications).

The first-generation processors have a PCI interface making them ideal for a low-cost, high-performance PC multimedia card. Because of its innovative architecture, the TriMedia processor yields a peak performance of 4 billion operations per second at a clock rate of only 100 MHz. A product strategy is in place for higher performance TriMedia chips and application-specific derivatives.

Technology Edge
The TriMedia media processor uses the industry's first VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) scheduling compiler. The TriMedia architecture combines innovative compiler and software design with advanced logic design. This results in a high-performance multimedia processor that combines the ease of programmability of a general-purpose CPU (Central Processor Unit) with the power of single function DSPs (Digital Signal Processors).

With VLIW technology at its core, the TM-1000 achieves higher performance by processing up to five operations with each clock cycle (compared to one operation with a conventional processor).

The open programming architecture is another key differentiator of the TriMedia product family of software-compatible media processors. Applications can be developed and optimized entirely in C or C⁺⁺ programming languages, avoiding the difficult and time consuming assembly language coding required by today's DSPs.

Philips Semiconductors has been developing the TriMedia advanced processor technology since the mid eighties. The company holds two patents associated with the design of the TM-1000 with four additional patents pending.

Strategic alliances
Strategic partners play an important role in the ultimate success of the TriMedia processor family. Philips Semiconductors is actively negotiating licensing agreements with leading semiconductor vendors. The company is also teaming with best-of-breed software development partners to develop a broad range of applications software.

Distribution
Philips Semiconductors is initially targeting TriMedia applications in video teleconferencing, video editing, set-top boxes for interactive TV and the game player market. The initial area of focus is consumer electronic manufacturers and PC makers interested in putting TM-1000s on motherboards or on multifunction add-on boards.

Pricing and availability
For quantity purchases of 100,000 units or more, the TriMedia Product Group is targeting a $50 price point for the TM-1000. Sample silicon devices, as well as development tools and initial software applications have been delivered to TriMedia's Early Access Partners, with volume shipments delivering in late 1997.

Company background
Philips Semiconductors, the ninth largest semiconductor company in the world, is a division of the $41 billion-strong electrical and electronics products manufacturer, Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Philips has been making semiconductors for over forty five years. Philips Semiconductors is supported by Philips Research Laboratories, one of the world's largest privately-funded research organisations, with facilities in five countries.

Significant Philips technology milestones include:
Medical X-ray tube (1918); The neon tube (1922); Sodium street lamps (1931); Audio cassette tape (1963); VCR (1971); Audio compact disc (1983); Digital compact disc (1990); TriMedia VLIW processor (1994); Digital video disk (1995)

TriMedia is a trademark of Philips Electronics NV.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.