Sony's i.LINK LSI Chips Among the First Connecting Storage Devices, Set-Top Boxes and Digital TV to IEEE 1394

Business Wire, Nov 24, 1997

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 1997--

Virtuoso Devices Link Digital and MPEG-2 Peripherals to High

Speed Serial Bus Standard

Sony Semiconductor Co. of America (SSA), a division of Sony Electronics Inc., Monday announced two LINK layer LSIs designed to connect peripherals in IEEE 1394 environments.

The CXD1948R supports MPEG-2 streams for set-top boxes, digital television and other DVB (digital video broadcasting) and DSS (digital satellite system) applications. The CXD3220R supports SBP-2 (serial bit protocol 2), a new disk drive industry standard for storage applications.

These chips are part of Sony's worldwide based i.LINK products for IEEE 1394 and are among the first available supporting the emerging standard. The new members of the Virtuoso family enable the next generation of consumer electronics and computer products to operate in a common environment. The Virtuoso family consists of Sony's new line of digital media devices.

"Compatibility with the IEEE 1394 standard will make the next generation of consumer electronic products more computer friendly and the next generation of computer products more attractive to consumers," said Vishwanath Nayak, director of marketing consumer a/v/d products for SSA. "Sony's LINK LSIs incorporate key enabling technologies that will lead to a diverse array of innovative products in the new millennium."

The IEEE 1394 serial bus is a new connectivity standard key to connecting high-bandwidth consumer products with PC systems. This inexpensive, easy-to-use and high-speed bus easily handles multimedia bandwidth requirements and will serve as a universal interface for computer peripherals and consumer electronic devices.

IEEE 1394 uses thin, flexible, durable cables and simple connectors to allow up to 63 devices to share a single bus in a daisy-chain or tree configuration. It can carry multiple channels of isochronous and asynchronous data simultaneously.

Isochronous capabilities enable the bus to handle real-time data, digital audio and video streams, while the asynchronous capabilities control traditional forms of information between devices. Combined, these capabilities support all the necessary data flow required to optimize the use of peripheral devices such as video cameras, CD-ROM drives, printers, storage devices, camcorders, VCRs or set-top boxes.

Supporting DVB (188 byte) and DSS (130/140 byte) transport streams, the CXD1948R conforms to the IEEE 1394-1995 standard and supports the AV protocol. The chip includes dedicated ports for 8-bit and 16-bit asynchronous and isochronous data. During transmission, the CXD1948R time stamps the MPEG-2 stream, converts it to IEEE 1394 format and sends it to the IEEE 1394 chip. It also automatically recovers time stamps during reception by keeping the IEEE 1394 data in a built-in FIFO and synchronizing it to the time stamp value and output.

The CXD1948R supports data transfer rates of 100 and 200Mbps. It provides both a host interface (asynchronous) and a TPS interface (isochronous). An on-board insert FIFO enables isochronous transfers from the host.

The CXD3220R comes standard with an asynchronous data page (ADP) circuit that automatically generates SBP-2 packets through the transaction layer instead of through software. It supports data transfer rates of 100 and 200Mbps and includes a 2KB FIFO for data transfers, a 96-byte FIFO for asynchronous transfers and a 156-byte FIFO for reception. Both 8-bit and 16-bit interfaces are provided for CPU and transport data.

Both silicon gate CMOS ICs are packaged as 100-pin, plastic LQFPs. The CXD3220R is available now in sample quantities, with pricing starting at $24 each. In June 1998, 1000-unit quantities will be available for an anticipated price of $14 each. The CXD1948R is available now in sample quantities, with pricing starting at $24 each. In December of 1997, 1000-unit quantities will be available for an anticipated price of $16 each.

SSA, based in San Jose, is a leading supplier of integrated circuits. Since 1983, Sony has designed, engineered and manufactured products for the U.S. semiconductor market. The company is a technology leader in the development of semiconductor solutions for newly emerging and cutting-edge high performance markets in multimedia, communications and workstation cache memory. Currently it offers a diverse array of innovative products ranging from memory to multimedia, communications, networking and wireless ICs.

Vertically integrated for fast product development and production, Sony is positioned to respond quickly to customer needs. The company includes a state-of-the-art design center in San Jose and wafer fabrication facilities in San Antonio, Texas.

For additional information, contact Sony Semiconductor Co. of America, 3300 Zanker Road, San Jose, Calif. 95134. Telephone 800/288-SONY or 408/955-6572, Fax 408/955-5176 or visit SSA's Web site at www.sony.com/semi .

CONTACT: Sony Electronics Inc.

Julie Steckmest, 408/955-4469

julie_steckmest@mail.sel.sony.com