Imagination Technologies introduces POWERVR FRC270 Frame Rate Conversion IP Core

Latest POWERVR FRC display IP core delivers outstanding frame rate conversion from video and film

Las Vegas, 8th January 2009: Imagination Technologies – the leader in semiconductor System on Chip Intellectual Property (SoC IP) – announces the availability to lead customers of its new POWERVR FRC270 – the only licensable high-quality and low silicon-area IP core for motion compensated, 240Hz frame rate conversion – which sets a new standard in quality and performance per square millimetre.

The low silicon-area requirements of FRC270 enable a cost reduced system solution for the OEM, whilst simultaneously improving the viewing experience for the consumer with superior quality motion. Combined with customer IP, or POWERVR VXD, VXE and I2P cores from Imagination, FRC270 enables SoC designers to implement a complete solution on a single device, replacing the multiple separate chips usually required for FRC, video decode and de-interlacing.

POWERVR FRC270 solves the key issues of motion judder, motion blur, and low frame rates, to give the consumer a greatly enhanced viewing experience on the latest range of High Definition flat panel displays. The core is capable of converting both SD and HD material up to frame rates of 240Hz, generating 1080p 240fps material to be displayed on the latest panels to support Full HD at 240Hz.

The POWERVR FRC270 IP core converts a sequence of pictures from one frame rate to a higher frame rate by inserting extra frames using full motion compensated interpolation.

Sophisticated, optimal design
The core is designed to operate with minimal host CPU load and intervention. It utilises a single memory interface for source and destination frames which is efficient for the latest DDR3 memory, as well as older generations of DDR.

The algorithms used in FRC270 automatically adjust to the input format, to optimise the algorithm for SD and HD source material. A sophisticated edge detection algorithm is also used, to refine the output minimizing the ’halo effects’ that plague traditional solutions.

Motion judder
Film material is typically recorded at 24 frames per second but most modern displays require a frame rate of 50 frames per second or higher. The traditional method for this 24-to-60 frames per second telecine conversion employs a method known as 3:2 pull-down, where film frames are alternately repeated 3 times, then 2 times. This results in a stepped and jerky motion which is unappealing to the viewer. Utilising motion compensated interpolation Imagination's FRC270 is able to recreate the intermediate frames without frame repetition thus avoiding the jerky motion associated with traditional methods while retaining the original ‘cinematic feel’ to the material.

Motion blur
An LCD or flat panel uses sample and hold data converters for each pixel displayed. The eye sees this as constant for the period of refresh of each frame, so as the object moves the eye blurs the image as it cannot follow the movement correctly. The smaller the movement between images the less blur will be apparent. POWERVR FRC270 creates data to reduce the movement between images, removing the blurring effect.

Low Frame Rate Enhancement
With the explosion in ‘YouTube-style’ user generated video (UGV) content, consumers have access to material from a wide array of sources, and equipment. Mobile video from digital cameras and mobile phones is often shot at frame rates as low as 12-15 frames per second. This gives the viewer a less than optimal viewing experience, as video appears jerky. The FRC270 can improve this low frame rate material, by increasing the rate to 25-30 frames per second, delivering smooth motion from low frame rate source content.

About POWERVR FRC270’s Frame Rate Conversion Capabilities
FRC270, is capable of conversion to and from any frame rates, typical examples are:

• 24 Hz material to 48, 60, 72, 96, 120 & 240 Hz
• 25 Hz material to 50, 75 and 100 & 200 Hz
• 30 Hz material to 60 and 120 & 240 Hz
• 60 Hz de-interlaced video to 120 & 240 Hz
• 50 Hz de-interlaced video to 100 & 200 Hz
• 100/120Hz material to 200/240Hz material (panel processor application)
• 15 Hz material to 30 Hz (low frame rate enhancement

About Imagination Technologies
Imagination Technologies Group plc (FTSE:IMG) – a leader in semiconductor System on Chip Intellectual Property (SoC IP) – creates and licenses market-leading embedded graphics, video, display and multi-threaded processors and multi-standard receiver technologies. These IP solutions are complemented by dynamic and extensive developer and middleware ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone multimedia, handheld multimedia, home consumer entertainment, in-car and mobile computing. Its licensees include leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies, as well as innovative leading edge start-up and fabless semiconductor companies. Imagination has corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.