Philips Consumer Electronics Selects Sage's FLI2200 Display Processor for 2001 Progressive-Scan DVD-Recorders

Business Wire, July 12, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2001

Powered by Faroudja Technology, Philips' Progressive-Scan

DVD-Recorders Offer High-Quality Rewritable Video

Sage Inc. (Nasdaq:SAGI), a leading provider of digital display processors for consumer technology and PC-display products, today announced that Philips Consumer Electronics, a leading manufacturer of audio and video products, has selected the Sage FLI2200 deinterlacer to be incorporated into its 2001 model-year progressive-scan DVD-recorders, (DVDR1000 and DVDR1500). Utilizing Emmy award-winning deinterlacing algorithms from Faroudja, a division of Sage, Philips' progressive-scan rewritable DVD-recorders achieve high quality video. The FLI2200's industry-first features, such as Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDi)(TM) and cross color suppression, further advance Philips DVD-recorders by producing smooth and natural images when recorded TV broadcast or camcorder content is played back.

"Sage's FLI2200 state-of-the-art deinterlacer complements our DVD-recorders to provide both the highest quality video recording and video playback," stated Marc Harmsen, marketing manager, DVD-recorders, Philips Consumer Electronics, North America. "Philips' DVD-recorders feature a powerful combination of versatility and ease of use for the consumer and allow them to simply press a record button to create their own DVDs. Incorporating the FLI2200 into our progressive scan DVD-recorders enables Philips to offer the superior video quality of high-end home theater systems at a reasonable price to our customers. Sage's FLI2200 includes key proprietary features such as DCDi and cross color suppression that are instrumental in achieving the video quality that our customers will appreciate during playback of video recorded on DVDs."

The FLI2200 is the world's first 10-bit single-chip motion adaptive deinterlacer, incorporating Faroudja's Emmy award-winning deinterlacing and post-processing algorithms to convert standard interlaced video signals into progressive-scan signals. Deinterlacing provides markedly improved video quality in a variety of consumer products ranging from progressive-scan DVD players and TVs to flat-panel monitors. This highly integrated single-chip implementation with advanced video features reduces system cost while providing PC-display and consumer technology manufacturers with unmatched video quality and maximum design flexibility. Industry-first features, including proprietary DCDi and cross color suppression, combine to further distinguish the FLI2200 from other deinterlacers on the market.

"Selection of the FLI2200 by Philips, one of the world's leading consumer electronics companies, confirms it as a leading deinterlacer with superior capabilities," said Robert Haefling, Sage's vice president of business development for DVD and set-top box. "Philips' DVD-recorders will use Sage technology to offer superior DVD playback quality for DVD movies as well as the consumers' own recorded videos. The DCDi difference is very clear to consumers, who can now achieve unprecedented picture quality at a great value. Cross color suppression is also important in achieving great video quality by suppressing artifacts produced when NTSC or PAL signals are decoded. The difference is especially clear when content such as sporting events and home movies are recorded and played back," added Haefling.

The DCDi algorithm eliminates the jagged edges seen on moving angled lines in video images. Motion-adaptive deinterlacing with optimal filtering on a per pixel basis suppresses motion artifacts and provides the highest resolution picture. The FLI2200 also features Film Mode deinterlacing, invented and patented by Faroudja, for proper handling of 3:2 and 2:2 pulldown as well as bad edit detection/correction. The FLI2200 supports 8/10-bit ITU-R BT656, 16/20-bit YUV and 24/30-bit RGB, YCrCb and YPrPb interlaced inputs and progressive outputs with auto-detection of NTSC/PAL/SECAM inputs.

Gartner Dataquest projects rapid growth in the worldwide market for recordable and rewritable DVD players, from 1.8 million units in 2001 to 13.8 million units in 2004 (preliminary data). With 345,000 units shipped in 2000, the next few years represent a significant market opportunity for Sage display processors.

The new Philips progressive-scan DVD-recorders, (DVDR1000 and DVDR1500) will be available in the U.S. in third quarter 2001.

About the Companies:

Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of $34.9 billion (EUR 37.9 billion) in 2000. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. It has 219,400 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol:PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com.