Naoki Asakawa, Nikkei Electronics
Sony Corp will launch six Blu-ray Disc recorders featuring its "CREAS" image processor LSI, which enhances color gradation, in series from Sept 27, 2008.
"CREAS is effective for any existing TV equipped with an HDMI interface, no matter whether it is a Sony product or not," said Shoji Nemoto, senior vice president and director of Audio and Video Business Group of Sony.
CREAS consists mainly of two circuit blocks. The "HD Reality Enhancer" in the first block stresses the outline (sharpness) and enhances color gradation (smoothing) of 8-bit video signals that are input. It analyzes color information of hundreds of surrounding pixels and determines the intensity of sharpness and smoothing processing by each pixel.
"When the edges of the surrounding pixels are strong, for example, it mildly processes sharpness," a Sony spokesperson said. Internal computing is performed on 14-bit or higher quality video, and 14-bit video signals (YUV4:4:4) are output to the circuit in the second block.
The "Super Bit Mapping for Video" circuit in the second block works to convert the 14-bit video signals to 12- to 8-bit signals in accordance with the feature of the panel, on which the video is output. During the process, the circuit slightly increases amplitude of color signals so neutral colors can be rendered to reproduce 14-bit equivalent video even if it is output on a display that can only render 8- or 10-bit video.
The technique is similar to dithering as a signal processing, but Super Bit Mapping "increases amplitude at high space frequencies in an effort not to cause the processing to appear as noises, in consideration of characteristics of human vision," the spokesperson said.
All the six Blu-ray Disc recorders feature a capability to record MPEG-2 TS format digital broadcasts after transcoding them into the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format. Minimum data rate that they can directly record HDTV video at is 4Mbps (when recording in LR mode). HDTV video can be recorded for 24 hours on a 50-Gbyte disc, according to Sony.
The recorders employed NEC Electronics Corp's "EMMA" series SoC as their main chip. Each model mounts three image processing LSI chips, EMMA, a transcode LSI and CREAS. As for Blu-ray Disc playback, the six new models all support BD-Live.
Extract hot keywords from EPG data
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Extract hot keywords from EPG data
For recording, the new models incorporated the "x-Midokoro (highlight) Magazine," a function to extract keywords to draw interest and lead trends from EPG data and display them in a form like a TV magazine.
"If x-Omakase/MaruRoku (the automatic recording function) is a function that extracts individual interests, x-Midokoro Magazine is a function that highlights the public interest," Sony said. "We hope users will take advantage of both functions in accordance with their needs."
As the function only uses EPG data for extracting keywords, there is no need to obtain information via the Internet.
The "BDZ-X95" and "BDZ-X100," high-end X-series models, feature the "DRC-MFv3" IP conversion LSI chip, two HDMI ports and two digital tuners. Both models support the "Odekake/Okaeri Transfer" function to transfer recorded video to other devices including the PSP and Walkman.
The X95 houses a 500-Gbyte HDD, whereas the X100 houses a 1-Tbyte HDD. Street pricing is expected to be around ¥200,000 (approx US$1,881) for the X95 and ¥280,000 for the X100.
The "BDZ-L55" and "BDZ-L95," L-series models focusing on the link with camcorders and other peripheral devices, are provided with a "one touch dubbing button," which allows users to easily copy videos from peripheral devices. Only the L95 is equipped with a "multi memory card slot," which supports major memory cards, as well as two digital tuners.
The L55 houses a 320-Gbyte HDD and the L95 mounts a 500-Gbyte HDD. Street pricing for the L55 and L95 is expected to be about ¥130,000 and 170,000, respectively.
The low-end "BDZ-T55" and "BDZ-T75" house a 320-Gbyte HDD. Only the T75 is equipped with two digital tuners. Street pricing for the T75 and T55 is anticipated to be about ¥140,000 and 110,000, respectively.
Along with these six recorders, Sony will release the"BDP-S350" and "BDP-S5000ES" Blu-ray Disc players as well. Both models support BD-Live. The BDP-S5000ES features the "CREAS" image processor chip as the new Blu-ray Disc recorders do. The players will be launched Dec 6, 2008. Street pricing for the S350 is expected to be around ¥45,000, while the suggested retail price of the S5000ES is ¥294,000.
Naoki Asakawa, Nikkei Electronics
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