09 January 2009

ST Licenses ARM Mali GPU For Next Gen STB & Digital HDTV

STMicroelectronics (STM), a member of the ARM Connected Community has licensed the ARM Mali-400 MP multicore scalable graphics processing unit (GPU) technology to meet the growing demand for superior graphics on increasing screen resolutions in home entertainment products.

ST said it has licensed the technology from ARM to integrate further enhanced HD resolution graphics capabilities into next-generation STB and TV processors by providing acceleration for full ‘immersive’ polygonal 3D and vector graphics. This will deliver the seamless composition of graphics and video for the best possible user experience from the next round of web-based interactive services, according to ST.

“STMicroelectronics is a proven leader in the digital set-top-box and HDTV industry and a longstanding partner of ARM,” said Lance Howarth, vice president and general manager, Media Processing Division, ARM. “By working closely to define the GPU architecture of the future, we are together shaping how consumers will interact with their choice of screen-based devices.”

 “As a long-time leader in the set-top-box and digital TV market, ST has continuously been at the forefront in providing broadcasters and consumer OEMs the right technologies at the right time for the development of world-class home entertainment products,” said Laurent Remont, Advanced System Architecture Director, Home Entertainment and Displays Group, STMicroelectronics. “HDTV is now the standard in this market, and 3D graphics technology at high-definition resolution has an increasingly important role to play in further heightening the entertainment experience for consumers.”

Samples of ST’s next-generation HDTV products implementing the ARM Mali graphics processor, compliant with the OpenGL ES 2.0 interface standard, are planned for later this year.