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STMicroelectronics Unveils New Nomadik(TM) Processor for Next-Generation Mobile Multimedia Applications

Geneva, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)

- STn8815 Adds Level-Two Cache to ARM Core, Smart Imaging
Accelerator, and More Memory, to Boost Performances While Ensuring
Software Reuse
STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) today announced a new mobile
multimedia application processor in its award-winning(1) Nomadik(TM)
family. The STn8815 embeds two new smart accelerators and more memory
to provide higher performance while ensuring full software reuse for
the next generation of mobile devices. This third Nomadik device,
which is pin-compatible with the successful STn8810, adds a level-two
cache to its ARM9 CPU as well as dedicated on-chip imaging and
graphics processors to the video and audio accelerators of the
earlier device. The STn8815 also features an enhanced Security
Toolbox and advanced new packaging options.
The new device builds on the fundamental Nomadik features of
ultra-low power consumption, open platform strategy, exceptional
video and audio quality, very small footprint, and scalable
performance. The STn8815 is the culmination of a series of
breakthroughs in video-coding efficiency, inventive algorithms, and
chip-implementation schemes. These advances were necessary to enable
smart phones, mobile multimedia devices, internet access products,
and car entertainment systems to play broadcasted media content,
record images and video clips, and perform bidirectional audio-visual
communication with other systems in real time.
"Nokia welcomes the introduction of Nomadik processors, which will
accelerate the integration of state-of-the-art multimedia consumer
applications into mobile devices," said Petri Haavisto, Vice
President, Symbian Product Platforms, Nokia. "The media-rich
capabilities of the Nomadik architecture will significantly boost
innovation and growth of the mobile entertainment and wireless
communication market."
"Nomadik is an award-winning family of application processors that
delivers best-in-class video performance," said Patrice Meilland,
Marketing Director of ST's Application Processor Division. "Now this
latest member of the family further enhances the mobile entertainment
experience for users. The chip not only integrates ST's cutting-edge
hardware accelerator technology, developed specifically for the
delivery of multimedia content on mobile platforms, but also it
offers excellent software development continuity for mobile terminal
manufacturers."
Nomadik's Smart Imaging Accelerator (SIA) delivers impressive
multimedia quality without sacrificing battery life. It operates as a
real-time, programmable image-reconstruction engine at up to 80
Mpixels/sec. This capability enables camera-phone systems, based on 5
Mpixel sensors, to execute noise reduction, auto-focus and exposure
control, and other fundamental algorithms, therefore eliminating the
need for an external imaging co-processor and reducing the system BOM
(bill-of-materials). The SIA, coupled with the Smart Video
Accelerator (SVA), which is capable of 30 Mpixel/s JPEG-image
encoding, allows impressive multi-shot camera performance, as well as
low-power video encoding. The STn8815 integrates two SMIA (Standard
Mobile Imaging Architecture) CCP2 (Compact Camera Port 2) camera
interfaces, and supports 10-bit raw Bayer RGB data formats.
The new imaging accelerator joins the smart-video and -audio
accelerators established in earlier Nomadik devices, and the new
graphics accelerator intended to support 2D/3D graphics-intensive
applications. STn8815 supports high-quality camcorder applications,
thanks to the accelerated 30-frame/s SDTV (standard-definition)
MPEG-4 encoding which runs in parallel to complex audio processing.
The H264/AVC decoding, accelerated via the SVA, and supporting up to
VGA format at 30frames per second, enables significantly improved
performance for mobile TV. The Smart Audio Accelerator supports
multiple audio standards such as MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, Midi synthesis,
plus all major speech codecs, with a 24-bit audio data path, and
noise reduction, echo canceling, stereo enhancements, and surround
effects.
By distributing taxing multimedia processing onto the accelerators
- which operate independently and concurrently to handle specific
codec functions - the innovative Nomadik architecture frees the CPU
(central-processing unit) of these time-consuming and energy-hungry
tasks. This approach allows the CPU to concentrate on control and
program flow, avoiding the need for high clock speeds. The CPU can
also enter a hierarchy of power saving modes to preserve battery
life; aggressive power management turns off inactive parts of the
chip and keeps the CPU in low-power modes whenever possible. Most
alternative mobile processors are based on a single CPU, or on a
combined CPU and DSP, which need to use high clock frequencies
leading to higher power consumption.
The CPU is an ARM926EJ RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)
processor core, to ensure full backward compatibility with existing
Nomadik processor software and the significant ARM9-based software
legacy in the industry. The core includes a memory management unit
(MMU), 16 kbyte data and instruction caches, and 128 kbyte level-2
cache which boosts performance while reducing the number of accesses
to the external memory. This core operates at a clock frequency up to
334MHz, delivering an impressive 1000 MIPS (32-bit RISC-equivalent),
on top of the performance of the hardware accelerators for video,
audio, imaging, and graphics. Moreover, an embedded SRAM of 512Mbytes
accelerates multimedia processing and enables complex applications
that most competitors cannot achieve with standard processing
architectures. The platform provides direct support for high-level
operating systems such as Symbian OS(TM) and Windows Mobile(R).
The compact 14 x 14mm BGA (ball-grid-array) packages are
pin-to-pin compatible with the STn8810, and use the same stacked-chip
technology to provide memory variants, including SDRAM (Synchronous
Dynamic Random Access Memory) and NAND Flash memory within the same
package. In addition, the STn8815 will be available in
package-on-package versions bringing extra functionality within the
same footprint. The new processor supports rich and improved
connectivity, including USB-OTG (USB On-The-Go) High Speed, a host
port, three UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter), IrDA
(Infrared Data Association), SSP (Synchronous Serial Port), three MSP
(multichannel serial ports), three I2C (Intelligent Interface
Controller) and other interfaces. For the increasingly-important
removable external memory it integrates NOR/NAND/CompactFlash/CF+ and
high speed MMC/SD Card/SDIO/Memory Stick Pro controllers.
The Nomadik family of multimedia application processors now
comprises the original STn8800/01 (differing in packaging), the
STn8810/S12 (differing in memory), and the STn8815, which is
available to key customers in engineering sample quantities with
volume production expected in Q4 2006. US pricing is expected to be
approximately US$19 for quantities of 10,000 pieces.
This press release is also available at:
www.st.com/stonline/stappl/press/news/year2006/p2004.htm
...with links to further information on the STn8815.
About ST's Home, Personal, Communication Group (HPC)
STMicroelectronics is a world-leading supplier of comprehensive
solutions for the converging segments of home entertainment,
communication, and connectivity. ST's HPC product offering
encompasses a whole range of applications in the digital consumer
market, including set-top box, DVD, TV, and audio; a wide array of
solutions for personal multimedia, from application processors to
energy management, mobile imaging, and wireless connectivity; and a
full spectrum of display ICs and devices for wireless and wireline
network infrastructures.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering
semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics
applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system
expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP)
portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the
forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a
key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's
shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris
and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2005, the Company's net revenues
were $8.88 billion and net earnings were $266 million. Further
information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
(1) The Nomadik architecture won the Microprocessor Report
Analysts' Choice Award in 2004
Nomadik(TM) is a trademark of STMicroelectronics. All other
mentioned trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
For further information, please contact:
    STMicroelectronics
    MEDIA RELATIONS:
    Mariagrazia Prestini
    Sr. Director Corporate Communications
    Tel: +41-22-929-5924
     Mariagrazia.prestini@st.com
    Burson-Marsteller
    Sandrine Romano (Paris)
    Tel: +33-41-86-76-77
     sandrine_romano@fr.bm.com
    Burson-Marsteller
    Guerric de Beauregard (Paris)
    Tel: +33-41-86-76-82
     guerric_debeauregard@fr.bm.com

Contact:

For further information, please contact: STMicroelectronics, MEDIA
RELATIONS: Mariagrazia Prestini, Sr. Director Corporate
Communications, Tel: +41-22-929-5924, Mariagrazia.prestini@st.com.
Burson-Marsteller: Sandrine Romano (Paris), Tel: +33-41-86-76-77,
sandrine_romano@fr.bm.com. Burson-Marsteller, Guerric de Beauregard
(Paris), Tel: +33-41-86-76-82, guerric_debeauregard@fr.bm.com

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