An SoC with integrated audio DAC and excellent flexibility

October 19, 2011, Newport Beach, California – Conexant Systems (Country Manager for Korea: Kyung-bae Park), a leader in innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, video, embedded modems, and video surveillance applications, announced today the launch of the CX25828, a highly flexible 8-channel video/audio decoder designed for video surveillance applications. The CX25828 features eight high-quality NTSC/PAL video decoders, nine audio ADCs (analog-to-digital converters), and one DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for audio playback and two-way communication applications.

This new System-on-Chip (SoC) is the latest addition to Conexant’s product family, specifically designed for advanced, high-performance DVR video surveillance products capable of capturing and recording multiple video streams simultaneously. Conexant also offers an industrial operating temperature compliant version, which is ideal for the rapidly growing automotive market.
Xiongmai Technology, a security equipment manufacturer based in Hangzhou, China, has adopted Conexant's CX25828 video/audio decoder for its CIF and D1 series CCTV DVR video surveillance systems. Xiongmai utilizes the Hi3515, a key codec developed by HiSilicon, in its designs. Chen Jinsheng, General Manager at Xiongmai, stated, "Conexant's video decoders, backed by expertise in video technology and systems, are excellent products that perfectly complement our security surveillance systems." He added, "Our goal is to minimize overall system costs while simultaneously improving system video quality, and Conexant's CX25828 has been of great help in this regard." “Not only is high video quality achieved through this chip’s enhanced video processor and comb filter, but cost-effective DVR implementation using various codec SoCs is also possible through the flexible audio/video interface,” they said, expressing satisfaction.

Conexant's CX25828 features a 10-bit ADC and a 5-line comb filter for optimal color separation, maximizing digital video output quality while minimizing noise, cross-luminance, and cross-chroma artifacts. Additionally, the video decoder can lock video sync even with very weak input video signals and is optimized for line-locked cameras, a common scenario for video surveillance systems. Boasting exceptional flexibility, the CX25828 not only connects video and audio data bidirectionally but also provides connectivity via GPIO and I2C interfaces.

Dr. Sailesh Chittipeddi, President and CEO of Conexant, stated, “We will lead the next-generation video decoder market based on the industry’s first successfully launched 8-channel video decoder,” adding, “Conexant’s 5th generation decoder will provide industry-leading interface flexibility and ease of use, as well as enable faster entry into the PC and embedded multi-channel DVR application markets.”

Conexant's CX25828 product supports the standard ITU-R BT.656 digital video format and byte-multiplexed outputs of 27 MHz, 54 MHz, and 108 MHz. Each video decoder includes a motion detection function and an image analysis engine, which send a signal to the host controller to start recording or wake up from sleep mode when an event is detected.

Key features include the following:
• 8 high-quality NTSC/PAL video decoders:
- Anti-false signal filter
- 10-bit ADC
- 5-line comb filter
- Independent scaling
• Video formats and interfaces
- ITU-R BT.656
- Multi-byte interleaved format: 27/54/108 MHz
- I2C interface
- 9 GPIOs
• Audio formats and interfaces
- 9 ADCs
- 1 DAC
- Sample rate: 8/16/32/44.1/48kHz
- 4 I2S interfaces for recording, mixing, cascading, and playback
- Interleaved I2S/DSP style output
- A-rule/u-rule encoding
- 8/16/24-bit PCM audio data
• Programmable motion detection
• 128-pin eTQFP package
• Commercial temperature range: 0 to 70 degrees Celsius
• Separate industrial temperature version: -40°C to +85°C

The CX25828 is currently available as a sample and is scheduled for mass production starting in the fourth quarter of 2011. The price of the CX25828 is $5.00 USD for a purchase of 1,000 units for commercial-grade products.