Socionext Introduces High Image Quality, H.264 Full-HD Multi-Channel Codec

Offers Optimum Solutions to the Growing Market of Video Transmission 

SUNNYVALE, CA, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 – Socionext America Inc., an emerging leader in advanced SoC technology for video and imaging systems, today announced the release of SC2M15, a new codec IC designed for video transmission equipment. The device can process decoding, transcoding and encoding of H.264/HVC video and audio signals with a single chip, and is suitable for applications including digital broadcasting and video streaming through Internet Protocol among others. Socionext will start volume shipments of the SC2M15 at the end of September.

In addition to the conventional digital broadcasting, new applications such as video distribution through Internet Protocol (IP), infrastructure surveillance and medical imaging are driving the expansion of the video transmission equipment market. Requirements for these kinds of equipment include higher stability and lower overall system cost. To keep pace with such needs, the transition is underway from software-based to hardware-based architectures. Socionext’s new codec IC meets those challenges, providing essential functions such as transcoding of multiple video streams and high image quality encoding at low bit rates.

Developed based on the company's long-time experience on signal processing technology, the SC2M15 is equipped with all the necessary and sufficient functions for video transmission, which includes simultaneous transcoding of three channels of H.264 / full-HD video and audio, high image quality encoding at a low bit rate such as 1080i60 and 2Mbps. In addition, the SC2M15 is designed as a slave-type device, meaning it can be controlled by external CPU through serial interface, giving users the freedom to design various equipment for wide range of applications including digital broadcasting, security systems, and medical imaging, as well as video capture and in-house video communication systems.

Socionext aims to be the world's leading solution provider in the video transmission equipment market, by offering advanced codec products like SC2M15 and related services.

Main specifications of SC2M15 include the following:

Video

Encoding
Decoding
Transcoding

H.264 4:2:0 8bit (up to 1080p60, 1080i60)
Multiple channel operation: one input to three output
H.264 4:2:0 8bit (up to 1080p60, 1080i60)
MPEG2 4:2:0 8bit (up to 1080p60)
MPEG2 to H.264,
H.264 to H.264
Multiple channel operation: maximum 1080i60 x 3 channels

Audio

Encoding
Transcoding
Pass Through*

MPEG-2 AAC, HE-AAC and MPEG-1 Audio Layer 2
MPEG-2 AAC, HE-AAC and MPEG-1 Audio Layer 2
MPEG-2 AAC, HE-AAC and MPEG-1 Audio Layer 2, AC3

Image Pre-Processing

Scaling
OSD overlay*
De-interlacing

Interface

Control
Stream
Peripheral
Audio/Video

UART x 1ch
TS-Serial Input x 2ch, Output x 2ch, Ethernet MAC (RGMII) x 1ch
USB Storage (2.0 x 1ch, 3.0 x 1ch)
I2S Input x 1ch, I2S Output x 1ch,
Video Parallel Input (YCbCr422) x 1ch,
Video Parallel Output (YCbCr422) x 1ch,
HDMI-Tx  x 1ch

System

Memory
Boot Device
Package

(16bit x 2) DDR3 1600Mbps x 2
NAND Flash ROM
FC-BGA (35mm x 35mm, 1.0mm-pin pitch)

Click here for more information on Socionext video processing Codecs