SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA and Hitachi Ltd are getting together to bring a 64-bit embedded processor based on Hitachi’s SuperH architecture to market in time to meet demand for appliances such as interactive set-top boxes, digital televisions and in-car multimedia systems. The two companies will bring some of their existing work to the party, in order to work jointly on a 64-bit processor core, before going their separate ways in building end products. The basis of the development will be Hitachi’s embedded SuperH RISC architecture, currently selling in vast quantities in particular for Sega Enterprises Ltd’s Saturn games console (CI No 3,145) as well as for digital cameras and hand-held devices. SGS Thomson has itself already developed a 64-bit core at its Bristol, UK engineering operation, and the companies say the combination of the two technologies will enable them to have 64-bit products in volume production within two years. SGS Thomson believes this is easily in time to meet market demand for appliances such as digital televisions and set-top boxes. It says these are the products it will be focusing on, for the consumer market, while Hitachi will develop products for digital cameras and hand-held devices such as personal digital assistants. SGS Thomson is also looking at the in-car multimedia market, again at least two to three years away, it says, where car systems may include a combination of GSM Groupe Speciale Mobile cellular telephony, GPS global positioning system, entertainment systems including DVD digital video disk and games consoles built in to the back of the seats to keep the kids amused on long journeys. Under the agreement, SGS Thomson will also have access, through specific licenses, to Hitachi’s 32-bit SH-3 and SH-4 SuperH chips.
