Image Processing Trends

By David Vrhovnik

October 30, 2006

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In the past decade, the field of image processing (the processing of video and/or graphic images) and more specifically integrated circuits (ICs) for image processing, have changed dramatically.

The transition from SD to HD video content, the move to larger screen sizes and resolutions and the increasing use of compression technology has brought about new challenges and opportunities to merchant silicon providers.

Taking a Look Back

In the early 1990s the majority of flat panel TV (FPTV) manufacturing was taking place in Japan (Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, NEC, JVC, etc.) and these manufacturers were developing their display technologies and image processing solutions in-house.

At that time, manufacturers were able to take advantage of abundant internal fabrication (fab) capabilities, low tape-out costs and existing image processing solutions from other internal business units active in the flat panel computer monitor market.

Over time, the FPTV production base slowly made its way into Korea (LG & Samsung), as consumer demand for FPTV technology increased.. In many cases, in-house image processing solutions were not readily available and these manufacturers leveraged merchant image processing solutions developed primarily for the LCD computer monitor market.

During this same period, the LCD computer monitor market transitioned closer to a commodity space, encouraging many merchant monitor IC suppliers to changed course and enter the FPTV market. To be successful in the FPTV space, these merchant IC vendors needed to displace the widespread use of internal solutions. The strategy employed, was to offer a more 'cost effective' silicon solution through high levels of integration and 'good enough' image quality.

As the years progressed semiconductor processing technologies shrunk, fab NRE prices rose, and FPTV production spread across Asia. This increased the focus on better merchant image processing solutions. At that time At that time this merchant group consisted of Faroudja (latter acquired by Genesis), Genesis, Pixelworks, Silicon Image and Trident among others Faroudja dominated the pack with their DCDi technology, which is still regarded by some as the benchmark for SD image processing against which all other solutions are judged..

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