On2 Technologies, a leader in video compression solutions, today announced the availability of its ninth-generation hardware video codec design, the Hantro(TM) 9170. The design supports video playback up to full HD (1080p) resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) in multiple formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Sorenson Spark(R), H.263, H.264, VC-1 and REALVIDEO(R) 8, 9 & 10, as well as up to 66 megapixel JPEG still images.

The video decoder core is also accompanied by a comprehensive suite of image processing functions including color space conversion, alpha blending, deinterlacing and image scaling. Intended for chipsets targeting multimedia devices (DVD/Blu-ray players, HD set-top boxes, mobile phones & handheld devices, gaming machines, etc.), the Hantro 9170 is built on silicon-proven designs deployed in millions of chips worldwide and provides semiconductor manufacturers with a minimal risk solution for integrating high performance video capability to their chipsets.

By integrating a hardware video codec, chip-makers are able to off-load from the processor core the computationally complex algorithms that are needed for playing a compressed video stream and adjusting it for the display. This enables them to reduce overall power consumption and achieve levels of performance otherwise unattainable.

The Hantro 9170 design is also exceptionally fast, requiring under 100MHz clock frequency to decode 1080p video at 30 fps. It also uses unique pre-fetching and buffering mechanisms to enable smooth operation with low-end SDRAMs. Together these features realize significant savings in power and overall chip design and manufacturing costs.

"This is our fastest codec ever, the result of evolution in our designs over many years," said Jani Huoponen, General Manager, On2 Embedded Business Unit. "Through extensive resource sharing and continuous improvements, we have also maintained the codec's silicon area at a very attractive level. Furthermore, the Hantro 9170 is fully configurable for resolution and format support, which means our customers can make best use of silicon area to target specific markets or develop a one-size-fits-all high-performance multimedia processor."

The Hantro 9170 is a hand-written RTL (Register Transfer Level) design and is delivered as source code (VHDL or Verilog). Delivery also includes an RTL test bench with test data, ANSI C source code for hardware drivers with software test bench and test data, and hardware & software integration guides and API manuals.