Lexra Announces Dolby[tm] Digital (AC-3)[tm] Algorithms for LX5x80 RISC/DSP Core

Lexra Announces Dolby[tm] Digital (AC-3)[tm] Algorithms for LX5x80 RISC/DSP Core

Lexra's Dolby-certified AC-3 Algorithm Cuts Chip Count Combining RISC and DSP Computing into One IP Core

SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 30, 2001) - Today, audio capability is a must for anyone building a multi-media consumer electronics System-on-Chip (SoC). Dolby Laboratories of San Francisco is a company synonymous with high-quality audio algorithms. Lexra, Inc. today announces that it has completed certification for implementation of the Dolby Digital (AC-3) digital audio coding technology. The software implementation is optimized for SoC applications using the Lexra LX5x80 RISC/DSP core.

"Dolby is a leader in audio processing," said Charlie Cheng, president and CEO of Lexra. "Combining a Dolby-certified AC-3 algorithm with Lexra's experience in producing highly portable, high-performance RISC-DSP embedded processor cores provides our customers with a solution that has both signal processing and general purpose computing in one core."

Dolby Digital is currently the most popular digital film sound format, as well as the worldwide standard for both standard-definition (SDTV) and high-definition digital television (HDTV). Dolby Digital is also the audio standard for home theater atmospheres; DVD, digital cable and satellite systems for which the market is continuing to expand.

"Lexra's Dolby Digital implementation leverages the Radiax instruction set to provide SoC customers with a single chip solution, and plenty of horse power left over for other processing, " explains Chris Hanna, Lexra's principal DSP Software engineer. "Designers will benefit from its features including a full six (5.1) channel decoder where most downmix modes are supported including Karaoke `aware' mode."

Lexra's highest quality (Class A) implementation of the Dolby Digital decoder has a small memory footprint that allows internal single-cycle access IMEM (instruction memory) and DMEM (data memory) to be used. On-chip memory significantly reduces overall CPU time requirements by eliminating external bus cycles for cache misses. The algorithm requires 22 Kbytes of instruction memory and 28 Kbytes of data memory. To ease the integration of the decoder with customer software, software interfaces are implemented via software APIs.
 

Price & Availability

The Dolby Digital algorithm will be available to existing Dolby Decoder implementation licensees for a one-time fee of $95,000.
 

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories is the developer of signal processing systems used worldwide in applications that include motion picture sound, consumer entertainment products and media, broadcasting, and music recording. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the privately held company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit http://www.dolby.com.
 

About Lexra

Lexra, Inc. is a leading microprocessor developer specializing in 32-bit RISC and DSP cores for the embedded market. In less than four years, Lexra has established itself as an innovator in embedded microprocessor technology and intellectual property (IP) licensing business model, with proven track record for customer success. During this short period, Lexra has delivered seven processors to 30 licensees in six different countries. Among the customers are major network communication companies as well as top ten semiconductor companies. Lexra is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Further company information can be found at http://www.lexra.com.

*MIPS, MIPS I, MIPS16, R3000, and other MIPS common law marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Lexra, Inc. is not associated with MIPS Technologies, Inc. in any way. Unaligned loads & stores are not supported in hardware or software.

"Dolby" and "AC-3 are trademarks belonging to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
 

For Immediate Release

Lexra Contact:
Jonah McLeod
Director of Marketing
Lexra, Inc.
San Jose, CA
(408) 573-1890
mcleod@lexra.com

Press Contact:
Katie Olivier
Account Executive
Shelton Communications Group
Dallax, TX
(972) 239-5119
kolivier@sheltongroup.com
 
 

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