IEEE1394

In the fast moving digital broadcast market, where TV and PC technologies are converging, the high performance IEEE1394 bus is now the established high-speed, real-time true plug-and-play serial bus system. As IEEE1394 popularity grows, IEEE1394 is becoming the accepted standard for connecting a variety of digital consumer electronics equipment to each other, as well as to multimedia PCs and workstations. Drawing on Philips Semiconductors' acknowledged expertise in digital TV systems and IEEE1394 interface devices, this reference design combines these technologies in the emerging Device Bay format, creating a simple high performance DTV receiver for PC and other IEEE 1394-based applications.

Based around a proven 8-VSB (Vestigial SideBand) demodulator with on-chip digital tuner AGC control, IEEE1394 used in the established 'Coney' PCI-based ATSC/NTSC PC-TV board, this reference design also incorporates Philips' advanced IEEE1394 devices: a high-performance Link layer controller with isochronous operation and embedded IEC61883 support; and a three-port Physical layer interface. These high-speed devices enable the digital TV signal (MPEG2 transport stream) to be transferred over the IEEE 1394 bus at 200 Mbits/s, output via either 1394 port or Device Bay connections.

This reference of IEEE1394 design enables platform providers to concentrate on developing the user interfaces and applications that will differentiate them in a market where competition is very fierce. A licence of IEEE1394 is available, royalty-free, from Philips Semiconductors to use the PCB layout (Gerber) files as well as the original design schematics.