Reference designs gain speedy codecs

Sharp Microelectronics Europe and Pace Soft Silicon have collaborated to deliver faster compression and decompression capabilities for ARM based devices.

Sharp Microelectronics Europe and Pace Soft Silicon, a provider of software-based codecs, have collaborated to deliver faster compression and decompression capabilities for ARM based devices.

Available now, Pace's decoding software supports Sharp's recently announced QCIF+ and QVGA reference designs for media-rich applications, including portable media players, audio jukeboxes and other handheld devices.

By collaborating with Sharp, Pace has expanded its expertise in media delivery solutions for mobile devices into the portable multimedia application niche.

Pace's software is designed to extract maximum performance out of Sharp's QCIF+ and QVGA reference designs by providing Sharp's customers with superior audio and video decoding capabilities for popular standards, such as MPEG-4.

The software's optimisation and support of various media platforms also helps Sharp's OEM customers differentiate their products by offering a flexible, proven solution for the low cost media player market.

Sharp also plans to use encoding software from Pace to support its next-generation multimedia reference designs and system solutions.

Software-based codecs available in the future will include an MJPEG video encoder and a JPEG still picture encoder and decoder with support for up to 2Mpixel.

The continued collaboration between Sharp and Pace will allow customers to enjoy reduced time to market when developing future generation products, or scaling their existing products to meet market demands.

"Pace's software offers solid support for our existing reference design solutions, and is an ideal fit for our ARM-based processors", said Gunter Wagschal, Product Marketing Manager for the BlueStreak MCUs at Sharp Microelectronics Europe.

"As we develop advanced next-generation multimedia devices, our relationship with Pace will ensure that our customers have access to a diverse set of codecs to differentiate and improve the flexibility and scalability of their products".

Faster video decoding enables market differentiation for media applications Pace's decoding software includes an MPEG-4 video decoder that delivers frame rates of up to 30frame/s for the QCIF+, and 24frame/s for the QVGA reference design.

Additionally, Pace offers software support for popular MPEG-4 compatible video decoders, an MP3 audio decoder, GSM-AMR audio decoder and AAC audio decoder to meet the range of decompression standards required by media-rich, portable applications.

By combining these software features with Sharp's ARM-based chips that offer a wide choice of tools, operating systems and middle-ware, cost conscious developers have an ideal solution for media applications.

Other software that will be available to Sharp customers in the future includes a WMV9 video decoder, with support for up to 20frame/s for the QCIF+ and 15frame/s for the QVGA design, as well as a WMA9 audio decoder and DRM10 decoder.

Additionally, Pace will offer G.726 and NB-AMR audio codecs.

"OEM designers of A/V-centric devices face stiff competition and pressures to bring unique products to market quickly and cost effectively", said Neil Salvi, CEO of Pace Soft Silicon.

"Pace's highly optimised decoding software perfectly aligns with Sharp's reference designs for portable, media-rich applications to deliver a superior audio and video product solution for Sharp's customers".

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