Creating the first convergence between personal computers and consumer A/V products is a new interface technology, IEEE1394. This emerging standard allows consumer A/V devices to function as true multimedia peripherals and makes the PC a true consumer device. With IEEE1394, OEMs will be able to meet increasing consumer interest in connecting PCs to audio, video and general multimedia peripherals. IEEE1394 uses small, inexpensive cables and simple connectors to carry multiple channels of digital audio and digital video data and control information among interconnected devices. Easy connection combines with high-speed transfer rate, scaleability, real time data processing and low cost to make 1394 ideal for a wide variety of applications. 1394's ability to "Plug and Play" and to "Hot Plug In" devices even when the power is on and without the need to restart the host are key for integration with consumer products. An important feature is peer-to-peer communication which allows consumer products to communicate with each other without routing information through a central node such as a PC. As an example, some IEEE1394-enabled camcorders can connect, communicate, establish a logical video connection and dub video data from one another without any loss in transmission. Of course with a graphical user interface, these functions could be performed much more easily and conveniently if these same camcorders were connected via a PC; a connection now possible only with IEEE1394. This exclusive capability makes IEEE1394 the de facto solution for professional, prosumer and consumer audio and video applications, a fact not lost on the PC industry. Sony is a leading manufacturer of 1394-compliant products and has already gained significant experience integrating PCs with multimedia peripherals. The breadth of Sony's consumer product family places the company in a unique position to optimize integration in multimedia systems. This enables Sony to conduct extensive simulation testing and verify designs to drive advancement of 1394 technology. As a result of this capability, Sony has found the key to using IEEE1394 as a multimedia connection is optimizing isochronous data handling. This is particularly true at the integrated circuit level. At the heart of any 1394 connection is a physical layer and a link layer semiconductor chip. The physical layer chip is a mixed signal device that supports multiple 1394 ports. It includes the logic needed to perform arbitration and bus initialization functions. The link layer chip transmits and receives 1394-formatted data packets and supports isochronous or asynchronous data transfers. Isochronous capabilities enable PCs to more effectively handle the high bandwidth streaming data typical in multimedia applications. Advanced isochronous data handling is extremely valuable when integrating consumer A/V products into systems where data is stored on PC hard disk drives. In November 1996, Sony Semiconductor Company of America (SSA), one of the vertically integrated operating companies within Sony Electronics Inc., announced the first two products in a planned family of IEEE1394 components that will provide the versatility OEMs need for multimedia applications. These two integrated circuits are the LINK-LSI, CXD1947Q, for host controller applications on the PCI Bus, and the PHY-LSI, CXD1944R. With these two chips, a host adapter can be built to enable users to edit home movies from their camcorders, control camcorders from PCs, run video conferencing applications and serve as a general PC connection to peripherals such as printers and hard disks. Using the results from extensive simulation testing, SSA engineers created the CXD1947Q, the link layer chip which permits input and output of digital audio and digital video from a PC or other PCI system. Optimized to handle digital audio and digital video data in a system environment, CXD1947Q provides greater reliability, efficiency and ease of programming than was possible in earlier versions. SSA was able to advance isochronous data handling and incorporate these advancements in its new chipset. Future versions will enhance this capability even further. CXD1944R IEEE1394 3-port 200Mbps Cable Transceiver/Arbiter The CXD1944R is a PHY chip which supports 100/200Mbps speeds and performs cable interface and bus arbitration. It conforms to the high performance serial bus IEEE1394-1995 standard. The structure is 0.4µm CMOS and it operates on a single 3.3V power supply. Features Conforms to IEEE1394-1995 Single 3.3V power supply Supports 100/200Mbps speeds Automatic power down for unused ports Absolute Maximum Ratings Supply voltage Vdd -0.5 to +4.6V Operating temperature Ta 0 to +70 °C Storage temperature Tstg -55 to +150 °C Allowable power dissipation Pd 1000 mW Operating Conditions Supply voltage Vdd 3.03 ± 0.3 V Package 64-pin plastic LQFP (VQFP) Applications When used with a LINK chip (e.g. CXD1947Q), allows configuration of a high-speed digital serial interface. Structure 0.4µm CMOS monolithic IC CXD1947Q IEEE1394 LINK Layer/PCI Bridge LSI Description The CXD1947Q is a single-chip implementation of the link layer protocol of the 1394 Serial Bus, with additional features to support the transaction and bus management layers. The CXD1947Q includes a PCI bus interface and multiple DMA engines to enable high performance bus transfers. Features 1394 Link Layer/PCI Bridge Conforms to IEEE1394 high speed Serial Bus Supports 100Mbps and 200Mbps 1394 bus speeds Conforms to PCI version 2.1 specification Supports 6 independent programmable DMA channels - Asynchronous transmit (1) - Asynchronous receive (1) - Isochronous transmit (2) - Isochronous receive (2) Three 128-word-deep FIFOs - Asynchronous transmit - Isochronous transmit - Receive Includes interfaces to: - 1394 PHY interface (CXD1944 or equivalent) - ROM (64K x 8) - Silicon Serial ROM Supports big and little Endian data formats Device Structure Silicon gate CMOS IC Operating Conditions Supply voltage Vdd 3.0 to 3.6V Operating temperature range Topr -20 to +75 °C With increasing emphasis on handling audio, video and general data types, the PC industry is working closely with consumer giants to incorporate IEEE1394 into PC systems in order to share in the communication, control and interchange of digital, audio and video data. To assist OEMs in getting started, SSA is providing both host adapter reference designs and application support for its IEEE1394 chipset. Sony has joined many other PC and consumer electronics companies in actively promoting 1394 and 1394-a. More than 50 consumer and computer electronics companies have formed the 1394 Trade Association to support the standard. Sony has taken the lead in defining the 800Mbps and 1.6Gbps standard under the IEEE 1394-a Working Group. As consumer demand for connectivity with audio, video and multimedia peripherals increases, the PC industry is racing to incorporate IEEE1394 into their systems, making the home personal computer a true consumer device and the center of the new home network. 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