New SOC Design Enables Stand-Alone Operation For Reduced Component Count, System Cost and Power Consumption
Qpixel Technology, an innovator in video compression silicon and software solutions, announced today the availability of the Qpixel QL202B, the third member of its low-power Main Profile (MP) H.264 codec family. The QL202B leverages the unique architecture of the QL201B silicon already in volume production. The new system-on-a-chip (SOC) integrates a 10/100 Ethernet MAC and an external flash memory interface for stand-alone operation, reducing cost and component count in devices such as digital video recorders, security cameras and networked audio visual (AV) streaming appliances.
With the new QL202B from Qpixel, consumers will be able to store and transmit video with the same quality as today’s MPEG-4-based systems, using as low as half the bandwidth and storage space. This results in significant savings in operation cost over the life of the appliance. The QL202B’s high level of integration reduces system component count, which when combined with its ultra low power consumption, gives manufacturers the ability to build lower cost solutions and aggressively pursue smaller, more compact form factors in their system designs.
Unlike its predecessor the QL201B, which was designed to run as a companion chip, the QL202B is ideal for stand-alone operation in a variety of networked and storage-based consumer appliances. Using the software development kit, customers can quickly and easily develop a product with the QL202B, since the SOC design handles all processing for capture, compression, transmission and storage of audio and video content. The integration of the ARM processor and the 10/100 Base-T Ethernet MAC, along with the comprehensive software suite, reduces the total bill of materials in networked appliances by up to $8 relative to competing designs, by eliminating the need for an external network processor and the associated memory.
Network streaming appliances, such as media servers, place-shifting devices and remote monitoring IP cameras, can take advantage of several features in the Qpixel QL202B design. Another target application for the QL202B’s stand-alone operation is the emerging flash-based personal digital video recorder/player.
The QL202B is available today and is priced at $13.5 in quantities of 10,000 units.
Some more details can be found in the original press release.
