| . |
. |
| |
iPC (Intelligent Panel Controller) Series of
Picture Quality Enhancing ICs
CXD4728R,
CXD4732R (Under development)
The Sony CXD4728R (iPC-Light) and the CXD4732R (iPC-Pro), which is under development, perform newly-developed picture quality
enhancement signal processing for post-scaling full HD and WXGA progressive scan signals. These ICs can achieve high-end picture quality
easily and at low cost.
Simply by adding one of these ICs, which concentrate the essence of Sony's technologies fostered during years of TV development, to an
end product, customers can achieve picture quality improvement which would not have been possible with existing scaler chips. Thus these
devices provide even further added value in end products.
The CXD4728R focuses on dynamic contrast and color representation improvement functions that were previously unavailable while the
CXD4732R adds new resolution creation functions and high-performance 3D-NR functions to the functions of the CXD4728R, thus providing
functions that support high picture quality. Furthermore, the CXD4728R and CXD4732R are pin compatible to make it easy to create end
product lineup roadmaps and rank distinctions with a common circuit board.
*: The photograph shows the CXD4728R. |
|
|
|
CXD4728R,
CXD4732R(Under development) |
| . |
. |
|
■ Progressive to progressive conversion
for high-level picture quality control
■ Screen division contrast enhancement
■ Chromaticity diagram based color
conversion
■ DRC-based resolution creation
technologies
■ 3D-NR that supports all worldwide
video signal standards
■ Easy-to-use package and software
|
|
 |
| |
|
 Progressive to Progressive Conversion
for High-Level Picture Quality Control |
|
To achieve low cost, the iPC Series are based on
the concept of achieving high picture quality for
signals scaled to the progressive mode for full HD
and WXGA. That is, even if the original signal is
an SD signal such as a low bandwidth DVD, or
even if it is an HD signal, the bandwidth of the
original signal is determined automatically and
the system is controlled automatically to use the
optimal parameters for that SD or HD signal. Since
it is difficult, especially for customers engaged in
external sales, to acquire information from the
system microcontroller, this functionality, which
operates independently, is especially effective. |
| Screen Division Contrast Enhancement |
|
These devices analyze the histogram of the input
signal and calculate an optimal contrast curve for
each frame. Since these devices provide a mode in
which histogram acquisition is performed for each
area into which each frame is spatially divided,
they can provide efficient screen division contrast
expansion even in cases in which there is valid
signal only in part of the frame. This has the effect
of preventing loss of detail in deep blacks and
bright whites. |
Chromaticity Diagram Based Color
Conversion
|
|
These devices include an independent 9-color
conversion circuit based on the xy chromaticity
diagram. Since the selected color and the color
direction for conversion are mapped in the
chromaticity diagram, it provides intuitive control.
In addition to being modifiable according to the
usage area or user preference, these devices can also
provide corrections for the backlight and color filters
when included in a display module. Furthermore,
since the white color can also be selected and
modified, the nature of the whites can be controlled
without changing the overall color temperature. |
DRC-Based Resolution Creation
Technologies (CXD4732R)
|
|
The CXD4732R adopts Sony’s industry-acclaimed
DRC (digital reality creation) resolution creation
technology and evolves that technology even
further by adding algorithms specialized for
progressive to progressive conversion. Since this
technology adopts processing within a single
frame, no frame memory is required, and despite
being compact, the CXD4732R allows end users
to experience the resolution creation capabilities
provided by DRC. |
3D-NR that Supports All Worldwide Video
Signal Standards (CXD4732R)
|
|
Although the needs for noise reduction (NR) are
decreasing in Japan due to the market penetration
of digital broadcasting and Blu-ray technologies,
analog signals and standard definition DVD
dominate the market worldwide. Thus high-performance
NR can be a significant advantage
for end products. While there have been earlier
attempts at developing 3D-NR, those technologies
resulted in residual images and excessive
degradation of fine detail and are not used extensively in end products. As a result, it has not
been possible to apply strong NR.
The iPC Series devices cleanly resolve the cause of
these problems and achieve a powerful NR effect
while holding side effects to an absolute minimum.
Furthermore, although this is a 3D-NR technology
that performs filtering in the time DOMAIN, it
requires no external memory whatsoever. |
Easy-to-Use Package and Software
|
|
These devices are provided in a 128-pin LQFP
package that makes practical boards easy to design.
Since heat-sink pads are provided on the package
back surface, heat sinking can be provided by
connection with the board. Thus there is no need
for a heat sink above the device.
Sony provides dedicated GUI-based software for
these devices for intuitive and easy-to-configure
control over picture quality adjustments.
Furthermore, this software makes readjustment
due to design changes and/or retargeting of end
products to alternative markets easy and quick,
requiring only a fraction of the time required by
conventional workflows. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
•••• Mr. Node , Mr.Miura and Mr.Johba ••••
|
|
|
To support sales promotion of this device,
we took full advantage of our back end-chip
development experience and were
able to implement almost all the ideas we
wanted to include, and think should be
included in this sort of device.
We think that the price, performance,
and simplicity achieved by incorporating
these ideas are unprecedented. Neither
external DRAM nor any special firmware
is required.
We strongly recommend that customers
who need to achieve high picture quality
quickly and need to create high value
added products quickly look into these
devices. |
|
 |
See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
|
Vol.61 |
|
