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Genesis-Harris Partnership Yields Flat-Panel LCD Monitor Reference Design

— Genesis incorporates Harris’ new triple A/D converter to streamline analog front end

MELBOURNE, FL, March 25, 1999 — Genesis Microchip, a global leader in imaging and digital video/graphics processing technologies, has incorporated chips from Harris Semiconductor to produce a complete reference design for building low-cost flat-panel XGA LCD monitors.

Genesis’ new Hawaii™ FRC EV3 Reference Design incorporates the necessary components for the design of low-cost LCD monitors for desktop PCs. Genesis expects that the new design will further reduce OEM bill-of-material costs and thus continue to drive the widespread adoption of high-resolution, flat-panel LCD monitors.

Having worked successfully with Harris on its first-generation flat-panel XGA LCD monitor reference designs (Maui™ EV4 and Maui™ FRC EV4), Genesis again turned to Harris Semiconductor for a complete analog front-end solution capable of delivering digitized output to its gmZ2 image scaler. Harris’ contribution to the chip set includes the new HI5630 triple 8-bit A/D converter, the HMP8117CN video decoder and the HI5634 programmable Phase Lock Loop (PLL).

The HI5630 is a triple 8-bit, 95 megasamples per second (MSPS) A/D converter for digitizing RGB graphics. The use of this chip replaces the three single 8-bit converters on board Genesis’ first-generation Harris reference design.

With full pipeline architecture and innovative input stage, the HI5630 can accept a variety of single-ended or fully-differential input configurations. Only one external clock is necessary to drive all three converters, and an internal band-gap voltage reference is provided, resulting in decreased cost and power.

The reference design’s NTSC/PAL video input and frame rate conversion capability is enabled by Harris' HMP8117CN video decoder. The device converts the analog signal from composite video to a digital signal, which is then scaled for resolution and de-interlaced for monitor display by Genesis’ technology. Key features of the HMP8117CN includes composite and s-video; I2C, BT and 656 output modes; two on-chip 8-bit A/D converters; patented comb filter for optimum color-luminance separation; and rock-steady digital PLLs for color sync lock.

"We're pleased to team up with Genesis Microchip to provide our customers with turnkey solutions that will help get their products to market faster," said Geoff Phillips, vice president of Signal Processing and Telecom Products at Harris. "By coupling our mixed signal and analog design capabilities with Genesis' digital scaling expertise, we're delivering reference designs that meet the growing demand for flat panel LCD monitors."

The market for flat-panel LCD displays for PCs is growing rapidly. As the design costs of LCD displays decrease, manufacturers are moving quickly to replace existing CRT designs with flat-panel LCD displays that can deliver better resolution and image quality within a sleek and slender design. Industry analyst group DisplaySearch forecasts a 55 percent compounded annual growth rate over the next five years.

The Hawaii FRC EV3 from Genesis is available now and the boards sell for $995.00 (board only). A full manufacturing package is also available from Genesis.

Harris Corporation's Semiconductor sector manufactures discrete semiconductors and integrated circuits. Product development efforts are focused on innovative "next-level solutions" for the communications and power markets. The company's portfolio of high-value products serve many market segments: automotive, industrial, PC computing, wireless networking, signal processing, telecommunications, PC multimedia, consumer electronics, defense and space. The worldwide website is http://www.semi.harris.com.

Harris Corporation, with worldwide sales of more than $3.9 billion, is an international communications and electronics company that provides a wide range of products and services such as wireless and personal communications, digital television (HDTV), health care information, automotive electronics, transportation, business information, defense communications and information and Lanier office products.

Genesis designs, manufactures and markets the ImEngine line of highly integrated semiconductors for a variety of video and graphics applications. Customers include Acer, Apple Computer, Fujitsu Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd., IBM, In Focus Systems, LG Electronics, Philips, Samsung Electronics, Sharp Corp., Siemens, Silicon Graphics Inc., Texas Instruments and more than 200 other companies.

Genesis Microchip Inc. (Nasdaq: GNSSF)—an ISO9001-registered company—is a global leader in imaging and digital video/graphics processing technologies. The company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada, while its U.S. subsidiary is located in Mountain View, California. Further information is available at: http://www.genesis-microchip.com.