High Definition Video Chip Sells for under $10

Texas Instruments has rolled out a high definition (HD) video processor that could cut the cost of HD-capable video cameras and digital picture frames by more than half.

Known as the TMS320DM355, the new chip shows promise as a way to bring HD capabilities to a wide variety of low-cost products, including security cameras, video baby monitors, video door bells and aftermarket automotive GPS systems, among others.

"Having high definition for products such as security cameras is somewhat of a no-brainer," says John Dixon, marketing manager for DaVinci products for TI. "You're getting further resolution and further recognition of images. And you're getting additional capability to do analytics, because you're taking more pixels and getting greater detail."

The DM355, as it's known, consists of an integrated video processing subsystem, an MPEG-4-JPEG co-processor (MJCP) and an ARM processing core with peripherals. The MJCP provides HD MPEG-4 SP encode or decode at 720p and 30 frames per sec, as well as JPEG encode or decode at 50 megapixels per sec. A development tool known as the DM355 Digital Video Evaluation Module helps developers implement the new TI technology. The video processor by itself costs less than $10.

TI executives say the chip, with its inclusion of analog peripherals, operating system, software, APIs and codecs, could cut the cost of an HD-capable camera from $500 to $200. They also say it could slash the price of a so-called "digital photo frame" from $200 to $120.

The company says the chip enables such huge cost cuts because it was customized for video applications.

"All of the video features mean that you don't need a higher processing device that costs more money," Dixon says. "Because we understood what standards our customers wanted - MPEG-4 and JPEG - we were able to optimize the hardware block specifically for those codecs. That meant we had no overhead in terms of logic and we didn't need a general purpose processor."

Moreover, TI says additional savings are realized on product development, largely because of the pre-development of the codec and operating system.

"We're trying to provide the whole solution," Dixon says, "versus a very small piece of the solution."