Renesas Electronics introduces high-performance, compact SoCs for multi-mode high-end set-top boxes

     Renesas Electronics announced the launch of a new system-on-a-chip (SoC) for high-end set-top boxes (STBS), the R-Home S1, which supports worldwide digital TV broadcast reception and Internet content distribution.

     Renesas Electronics regards STB-oriented SoCs as a strategic product for its SoC business, and vigorously promotes this business. In February 2011, Renesas shipped 100 million STB SoCs. At the same time, services that integrate communications, broadcasting and Internet connectivity on a global scale are steadily growing. Ultimately, there is a growing demand for multimodal STBS that can support these services. In addition, new capabilities are now needed to relay the content received by the STB to smartphones and other terminals.

     The Renesas R-Home S1 SoC addresses these needs by leveraging broadcasting and security technologies developed in earlier TV/STB products, recording technologies developed in Blu-Ray/DVD products, and low-power technologies developed in mobile products to enhance the display performance of existing Renesas STB products. The R-Home S1 is the first Renesas STB SoC to use the integrated SoC platform, a design platform that unifies key core technologies in the three areas of mobile products, automotive systems and home multimedia. Developed after the latest merger in April 2010, Renesas Electronics uses ARM multi-core processors and image technology 3D picture engines. It also includes a high-resolution video code converter that supports smartphones and laptops.