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4K video decoder chip from Broadcom powered by Brahma-15 CPU

Date: 09/01/2013
Broadcom Corporation has announced Ultra High Definition Television (UltraHD TV) video decoder IC BCM7445 for range of applications such as video-on-demand (VoD), gaming, social media and web store applications.

"The clarity and brilliance of UltraHD television is a significant step forward in viewing enjoyment and is the next true evolution in TV innovation," said Dan Marotta, Broadcom's Executive Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Communications Group."By integrating HEVC, Quad 1080p transcoding, quad-core CPU, gigabit networking speeds and web domain security, Broadcom is enabling a dramatic improvement in the TV viewing experience while making UltraHD video delivery economics work for service providers."

"HEVC, which will be known as MPEG-5 or H.265, will be required to broadcast UltraHD content, notably major sporting events and Hollywood content," said Michael Inouye, Senior Analyst of TV and Video, ABI Research. "Next generation user experience, including 80 inch and larger displays, will be improved by the adoption of UltraHD and HEVC. The efficiency of HEVC will also enable additional services including faster IP downloads and the provisioning of VoD services over wireless networks."

Key Features:
Based on 28 nm process technology, the BCM7445 features the new Brahma15 21,000 DMIP CPU, four 1080p30 real-time transcoders and HEVC compression that delivers resolution up to 4096x2160p60.
The BCM7445 also features web domain security to separate Internet services from premium broadcast content. This protects critical core network functions from malware threats.

Brahma15 Application Processing
The Brahma15 is a 21,000 DMIP Quad-core ARMv7-A instruction set compatible multiprocessor. 32KB instruction and 32KB data caches per processor are backed by a shared 2MB L2 cache and feed the multi-issue, out-of-order superscalar 15-stage plus write back pipeline of the Brahma15. A 32KB read-ahead cache between the L2 cache and the memory controllers provides 8KB of read latency reduction per processor. The Brahama15 supports the ARM Trust ZoneŽ security architecture, software virtualization and hardware virtualization by core for complete security isolation. Each core individually supports single cycle ARM NEON 128- bit vectors for software based media processing applications. The entire architecture supports Broadcom's Nexus and Trellis software interfaces ensuring a seamless continuation of the home gateway and client experience.

Availability: Samples of the BCM7445 UltraHD TV video decoder for the home are now available, with volume production expected in mid-2014. The BCM7445 is demonstrated at Broadcom's booth at 2013 CES International.