Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe has released two ICs for encoding and transcoding between full HD (high-definition) H.264 and MPEG-2 streams. The MB86H57 measures 15x15mm, and the MB86H58 27x27mm. They include memory-in-package and only consume 1W in full transcoding operation thanks to the company's proprietary video-encoding algorithms, which maintain high-video-compression performance by reducing the processing load. The devices can be deployed for conversion between MPEG-2 and H.264 AVC streams up to full HD (1920x1080i), as well as between audio formats; they can also be used as MPEG-2 or H.264 AVC encoders. The low power consumption and small form factor of the MB86H57 allows it to be used in video adapters for wireless transmission in home networks or portable recording devices. The ICs also include encryption engines, allowing secure transmission of the output streams for digital-rights management-based applications. The ICs are targeted for use in PC grabber cards, H.264 encoding supporting flexible video resolutions via PCI I/F or PCI Express I/F, portable digital video recorders, HD-video encoding into mass-storage devices, PVRs or personal video recorders and home networking. The transcoding feature from MPEG-2 HD/SD or H.264 HD content received by a set-top box into H.264 SD or less resolution enables the user to store it on USB sticks for portable video players. Transcoded HD content received at the main set top box at home to H.264 SD or MPEG-2 SD can be transmitted via streaming to client-set top boxes in a multi-room system. Both ICs integrate all the necessary functions for systems developed to record digital broadcasts, including security functions and an interface to digital-TV demodulators.
