Single-chip IC for 4K media playback with built-in HDMI Tx/Rx

Socionext Inc. announced that they have begun the sampling process of their new MN2WS03101A. The MN2WS03101A is a single chip IC used for 4K/p60, HEVC and VP9 playback with a built-in HDMI-Tx/Rx. With the new device, it is capable of real time, multi-channel transcoding and four times faster in transcoding Full HD one-channel video.

As 4K resolution video becomes more popular and a wider variety of video content is available through the network, there is a high need for a playback capability for new video formats in addition to conventional full HD. HEVC, the new data compression technology is being adopted now for 4K Video, in particular. The market requires a compact, low-power chip that performs real-time decoding of HEVC-compressed 4K/p60 video, allowing output of high quality video with various image processing effects.

Socionext’s MN2WS03101A supports 4K/p60 video all the way through input, decoding to output. It can accommodate the high quality playback of 4K video such as HEVC, VP9 and H.264. It supports the up-conversion of Full HD videos with the conventional codec standards, such as H264 or MPEG-2, to 4K, using super-resolution processing.

The new device is also capable of real-time, multi-channel transcoding (Four-channel Full HD videos to H.264 or to MPEG2) and 4X speed transcoding of Full HD one-channel video, which is applicable for media distribution equipment such as recoding instruments or home gateways.

Socionext plans to start volume production of MN2WS03101A in the second half of 2015, targeting it for next generation 4K video equipment.

Socionext is a new company established by the consolidation of the system LSI businesses of Fujitsu Limited and Panasonic Corporation. It has a track record of development and delivery of products for various video applications. Socionext is now sampling 4K HEVC real-time encoder MB86M31. Together with MN2WS03101A, the company will support total video solution for a wide range of applications.

Other MN2WS03101A features include: HDMI 2.0 Input (HDCP2.2), high quality and high definition video processing (HDR, BT. 2020) and stress-free special processing such as image compositing, rotation, or deforming. It is available now in samples in FCBGA-1177 31mm x 31mm package.