Conexant's reference design for analog video 'frame grabbing' and digitization apps

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Conexant Systems Inc., a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded-modem, and video applications, announced the availability of a new video “frame grabber” reference design that enables users to capture and transfer older-technology analog video files from camcorders and VCRs to personal computers via an integrated USB interface.

This allows consumers to digitize, edit, archive, and share video content on the Internet more easily. The reference design is based on the company’s CX23102 audio/video (AV) decoder and CX23417 A/V encoder. Key features include on-board, real-time MPEG-2 compression, which frees up the PC processor for other tasks. The new solution is shipping to consumer video electronics manufacturers in China now.

“With our highly integrated hardware and software reference design, manufacturers can quickly deliver cost-effective products that allow consumers to easily digitize and preserve content initially recorded on older-technology audio and video tapes, which degrade over time,” said René Hartner, vice president of marketing for Conexant.

“In addition, integrated support for worldwide audio and video broadcast standards eliminates the need to re-engineer products for various geographies, which reduces product-development costs.”

The CX23102 has several features that improve video quality. These include 10-bit video analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), a full 10-bit video data path, a multi-tap horizontal and vertical scaler, and hue, brightness, saturation, and contrast controls.

The highly integrated device eliminates the need for additional components including broadcast decoding and processing chips, and external sound demodulation chips. The low-power CX23417 incorporates the functionality of up to three different chips.

Video-enhancing features include built-in noise filters that dynamically improve images in the pre-processing stage, an increased motion search range, the de-coupling of motion estimation from encoding, and an adaptive quantization scheme. The high level of integration in both devices allows manufacturers to reduce product size and bill-of-material costs without compromising audio and video performance.

The reference design enables the capture of a wide range of analog inputs including composite video, S-Video, and component video. It also meets USB 2.0 low-power consumption requirements.