NetLogic Microsystems expands ultra low-power Alchemy Au1300 family with two new processors

2010 COMPUTEX TAIPEI, TAIWAN: NetLogic Microsystems, Inc., a leader in high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions for next-generation Internet networks, has announced two new members to the Au1300 Ultra Low-Power Alchemy processor family with the introduction of the high-performance Au1384 and the cost-effective Au1310 devices.

NetLogic Microsystems’ new Au1384 and Au1310 processors deliver the powerful processing performance, robust media acceleration and ultra low-power functionality required for intelligent next-generation connected automotive infotainment, audio/video navigation (AVN), heads-up display (HUD) and telematics systems.

Multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have adopted the new Au1384 and Au1310 processors for advanced connected car products. These connected car products allow users to access on-line information, watch videos and broadcast television, listen to audio files or tune in to Internet radio, and get real-time navigation maps and traffic from the comfort of the automobile.

“Our innovative Alchemy processors are powering and ushering in a new class of advanced digital solutions for the connected car,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president of marketing, Ultra Low-Power Alchemy Processors at NetLogic Microsystems.

“The addition of the Au1384 and Au1310 processor models demonstrates our continued leadership in delivering superior processing performance, broad feature set and functionality at the lowest power profile and highest scalability. Our Alchemy processors are enabling the convergence of media-rich entertainment, high-speed Internet connectivity and intelligent navigation for tomorrow’s automobiles, as evidenced by our strong design win leadership with multiple Tier One customers.”

The ultra low-power Au1384 processor operates at 800MHz, with a system bus speed of 400MHz, which improves overall performance and supports memory speeds up to DDR2-800. The Au1384 integrates a high-definition (HD) version of the second generation Media Acceleration Engine (MAE2) video processor for media decode and a 3D graphics processor supporting both OpenVG and OpenGL-ES standards. The Au1384 is available in both commercial and industrial temperature configurations.

Fine Digital’s automotive infotainment solution is the first commercial product to incorporate NetLogic Microsystems’ ultra low-power Au1384 processor. It features a 7-inch wide-VGA (800 X 480) LCD display, 3D navigation, and rich media playback. This market-leading solution also includes SD and USB expansion ports for media and mobile TV (DMB) functionality. Fine Digital will introduce its automotive infotainment solution in mass production in June 2010.

“We selected NetLogic Microsystems’ Au1384 Alchemy processor because it provides superior 3D performance, very rich media capabilities and extremely low standby power required for our next-generation automotive infotainment solutions,” said Dr. ByungSoo Kim, CTO of Fine Digital.

“As a leading provider of media-rich automotive infotainment solutions, we are excited to be working with NetLogic Microsystems and its market-leading Alchemy processors to help us deliver an innovative infotainment solution to the Korea market.”

The ultra low-power Au1310 processor operates at 533MHz and takes advantage of NetLogic Microsystems’ innovative Au1300 family architecture to deliver the performance and a rich media experience while maintaining typical overall system power rates of approximately 1/2 watt.

The Au1310 is socket- and software-compatible with other members of the Au1300 family, and enables customers to reduce cost by eliminating the 3D functions and supporting a version of the MAE2 capable of Wide-CIF (480x288) video decode, which leaves the 533MHz CPU performance “headroom” for enabling multi-tasking capabilities such as navigation, advanced user interface, media playback and other communication features.

Thinkware, a leading provider of navigation and location-based services (LBS) in Korea, has selected the Alchemy Au1310 for its upcoming “I-Navi AE” navigation system. The “I-Navi AE” is an on-dash navigation system that features an intuitive user interface on an integrated 7-inch diagonal, wide screen display, and is pre-loaded with the newly upgraded “Navi SE 3.2” navigation application software.

Thinkware’s “I-Navi AE” also supports a variety of passenger entertainment options such as digital TV broadcast (DMB), a karaoke player, several entertaining games, and multimedia playback features (audio and video) to enable user media playback from an external USB memory device.

“We are pleased to have selected NetLogic Microsystems’ ultra low-power Alchemy Au1310 media processor in our latest navigation system," said Konan Kim, CTO of Thinkware. “We have built a strong relationship with NetLogic Microsystems and the strong processor performance, multimedia capability, and ultra low-power consumption of the Au1310 Alchemy processor are what we have come to expect from the team and we look forward to continued success as we begin volume production.”

Building on the leadership of the ultra low-power Alchemy Au1300 family, both the Au1384 and Au1310 processors are based on a high-performance MIPS32 architecture and integrate a full complement of on-chip peripherals and connectivity functions.

NetLogic Microsystems’ Au1384 and Au1310 processors also include a best-in-class LCD controller with four graphics planes for 32-bit aRGB, and a second generation Media Acceleration Engine (MAE2) for H.264, MPEG 1/2/4, DivX, XviD, WMV9 and VC-1 media playback and are available in a 21mm x 21mm, LF-PBGA537 package.

NetLogic Microsystems’ ultra low-power Alchemy Au1384 and Au1380 processors are available for mass production today.