(2) 17 video processors of six different types, optimized for automotive computing systems to deliver industry-leading Full-HD 12-channel performance

The newly developed video processing circuit block integrates 17 video processors of six different types in order to achieve real-time and power-efficient video processing without imposing any additional load on the CPU and GPU. Stream processors and codec processors handle video encoding and decoding, rendering processors perform distortion correction, video processors perform general image processing, blending processors handle image composition, and display processors perform processing for displaying images on screens. The video processors are connected to each other via hierarchical buses.

Evaluation of prototypes of the video processing circuit block comprising these video processors, fabricated with a cutting-edge 16 nm FinFET process, confirms truly industry-leading Full-HD 12-channel performance (approximately three times improvement compared to the existing Renesas devices using the 28 nm process).

(3) Combination of two types of data compression, lossless compression and lossy compression, to reduce memory bandwidth by 50 percent and achieve Full-HD 12-channel processing with industry-leading low power consumption of 197 mW

When performing the massive video processing required by Full-HD 12-channel video, data accesses to the memory are a major source of performance bottlenecks and power consumption. In addition, in automotive computing systems it is necessary to minimize the memory bandwidth consumed by video processing to avoid interfering with the cognitive processing performed by the CPU and GPU. It is essential not to inhibit the operation of driving safety support systems, which must maintain a high level of safety.

For this reason, image data stored in memory is compressed to reduce usage of memory bandwidth. By using both lossless compression, which does not alter the pixel values and results in larger silicon area, and lossy compression, which alters the pixel values and results in smaller silicon area, in a manner appropriate to the image processing characteristics, it is possible to reduce memory bandwidth by 50 percent in a typical video processing flow. In particular, to avoid an issue specific to DDR memory where the memory access efficiency drops when accessing smaller blocks of data, meaning that there is no effective reduction in memory bandwidth, caching is used for video decoding, which involves large numbers of accesses to small blocks of data. This makes it possible to increase the DDR memory access size and reduces the effective memory bandwidth by 70 percent. Evaluation of prototypes fabricated with a cutting-edge 16 nm FinFET process confirms that this reduction in memory bandwidth results in a 20 percent drop in power consumption, proportional to the reduction in the volume of data transaction on the bus, resulting in truly industry-leading Full-HD 12-channel power consumption of 197 mW (60 percent less than that of current Renesas devices using the 28 nm process).

The newly developed video processing circuit block will realize automotive computing systems integrating vehicle information systems and driving safety support systems by enabling massive video processing without imposing any additional load on the CPU and GPU, with real-time performance, low power consumption, and low delay. Renesas intends to incorporate the new video processing circuit block into its future automotive computing SoCs to contribute to a safer and more convenient driving experience.

Renesas announced this technology on February 1 at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) held in San Francisco from January 31 to February 4, 2016. The demonstration showed the processing performance of a test board with an SoC incorporating the newly developed video processing circuit block by playback of Full-HD 12-channel video content, accompanied by a real-time display of memory bandwidth reduction rate.

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), the world’s number one supplier of microcontrollers, is a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions and a broad-range of analog and power devices. Business operations began as Renesas Electronics in April 2010 through the integration of NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) and Renesas Technology Corp., with operations spanning research, development, design and manufacturing for a wide range of applications. Headquartered in Japan, Renesas Electronics has subsidiaries in 20 countries worldwide. More information can be found at www.renesas.com.

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