This is the next in a series of articles taken from the H/DTV Technology Review & CES 2005 Report by Rodolfo La Maestra, published in March 2005. If you are interested in downloading the full version of this report, it is currently available for purchase from our CES Report page.

Algolith

Silicon Optix/Teranex is planning to make available the new Realta HQV chip as OEM to manufacturers that want to implement it on their video processing, and Algolith has already in the works a scaler/noise reduction unit that incorporates the chip, the unit is expected to come out in Jun/Jul 05, its name is "Dragon Fly", and it will have a $3499 MSRP. On a conversation I had with Mr. Michael Poirier, VP of Sales and Marketing of Algolith, he indicated that the specs of the "Dragon Fly" are still in development at this time, but the unit is expected to output 1080p/60 frames x second refresh rate from various input rates from 480i to 1080i, he indicated that by the time the unit is out it might happen that the 1080p output could be offered at other refresh rates such as 24fps or 30fps if the particular application benefits from those rates.

Center Stage

Apr 04 Scaler CS-2 $2,500, TTM now, DVI/HDCP input signals decrypted and processed to DVI/HDCP output, no analog output (applicable to protected DVDs). DVI input signals without HDCP are processed over DVI and analog outputs. DVI input is not 1080i compatible, and it wont pass-thru 1080i either, which means it is needed a separate switcher.

Cinemateq

Sep 04 Picture Optimizer $1075, seven resolutions scaler, RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB and YUV, 3 video inputs, five AR conversions Picture Optimizer Plus SDI $1850 (without SDI option), integrates 22 possible resolutions up to 1080p, distributes doubling at 120 Hz NTSC, or tripling at 90Hz NTSC, quadrupling at 72 Hz NTSC, or wide XGA 90Hz with NTSC. 8 inputs that can be configured individually.

Faroudja

Video Processors DVP-1000 $7000, selectable output scan-rates DVP-1500 $10000, w/DVD drive DVP-1010 $4000, updated from the DVP-1000, variable resolution, input/output DVI/HDCP compliance, TTM now, from 800x600 to 1920x1080 selectable resolutions, YPbPr input/output, RGB in, RGBHV out, DCDi, DVI transcoding from analog component DVP-1080 $6500, TTM mid Feb 05, similar specs as 1010 DVP4000 $15000, TTM now, included in the CES 2004 report. Native Rate fixed-resolution units discontinued

Key Digital

Sep 04 HD Hanna $2500, TTM Sep 04, Video processor/digital STB/video switcher, 1394/DTCP, DVI-D, ATSC/NTSC tuners, nine output resolutions, 1394/DTCP, RGBHV D-sub, DVI-D, Toslink audio output, scales up YPbPr component signals with optional expansion card, simultaneous SD and HD signal output, Digital Blaster $2500, TTM Sep04, ATSC STB, converts SDI (480i and 1080i signals) to DVI-D output, output formats 720x480p at 60Hz, 1280x720p at 60Hz, 1280x768p at 60 Hz, 1280x1024p at 60 Hz, 1920x1080i at 60 Hz, 1920x1080p at 60 Hz, 1920x1080p at 24 Hz, and pass-through. Signal processing is fully in the digital domain without converting it to analog. Accepts Serial-Digital Interface (SDI) signals at the 270 Mb/s (SD) or 1.485 Gbps (HD) bit rates. RGBHV output over D-sub.

Lumagen

VISION DVI $1000, eight inputs (includes 2 SD/HD component and 2 DVI/HDCP), DVI output, DVI input accepts 480i, 1080i, 480p and 768p, Multipoint gray scale calibration, individual memories, transcodes component video and RGB analog to DVI-D. VISION HDP $1500, eight inputs (includes 2 SD/HD component and 2 DVI/HDCP), DVI-I output, optional BNC output, adds 1080p output resolution, 1080i deinterlacing to 1080p, transcodes component video and RGB analog to DVI-I (digital and analog). VISION Pro HDP $2300, ten inputs (includes 2 SD/HD component and 2 DVI/HDCP, component cables, front LCD display & controls, BNC connections for analog inputs/output.

Silicon Optix

Image AnyPlace Video Scaler $2500, professional quality HD deinterlacing, and eWarp Engine $1500 for projector placement angles +-40 degrees horizontal, and +-30 degrees vertical, DVI and VGA connectivity, TTM current. This processor does not have the HQV chip from Teranex. Other video processors from the manufacturers above as well as from ADS, DVDO, etc were covered on earlier HDTV technology reports such as the 2004, and many of those models are still current. Be sure that you read the next article in the series: HDTV Video Cameras (Coming Soon)