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Fujitsu's Innovative MB86290A Graphics Display Controller

16 February 2000

The Future of Car Navigation with Fujitsu's Innovative MB86290A Graphics Display Controller

    LONDON, Feb. 16 -- Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe is showing
the MB86290A, the first Graphics Display Controller of a new family, at the
Embedded Systems Show in Nurnberg.  This new device is the industry's fastest
dedicated to embedded systems applications such as Car Navigation, and
"Infotainment" systems.
    The product offers the unique feature not yet found in other Graphics
Display Controller's, of displaying graphical information on four separate
memory layers, obviating the need for re-drawing of the map each time new data
is added.  It also has both 2D and 3D graphic functions for displaying
information.  The overall graphical performance is 100Mpixels/sec, about
10 times greater than that of competitive products.
    The four separate layers start with the Base:  the fundamental map display
layer, which can be divided into two zones.  Above this is the Middle layer, a
supplement for the base, which can also be divided into two zones.  The Window
layer, third from the bottom, is applied to overlay graphics or input a video
image, whilst the Console layer is applied to show switches and panel
displays.
    The MB86290A is also compatible with the external buses of various types
of CPU's (including FR, SH3, SH4) without external glue logic.  To adjust to
severe temperature conditions and operating environments, the chip has a low
power dissipation of less than 1W.  Unlike other products it is able to
operate in the temperature range of -- 40 degrees to 85 degrees.
    Some of the special features of the product include an in-built
anti-aliasing function, which allows all lines to appear smooth on the small
screens used in navigation systems.  Also Alpha-Blending and output
synchronised to an external video signal, used for picture in picture
information are supported.  This is implemented in hardware, therefore
allowing the system to operate more quickly.
    Some additional features of the device include:  an analogue RGB output;
various screen resolutions from 320 x 234 to 1024 x 728; line pattern; chroma
key; shading; texture mapping; double buffer management and a cursor.
    The MB86290A GDC was developed in 0.25 micron technology, and is housed in
a FP240, although with two further devices planned for the future,
incorporating embedded SDRAM rather than the SDRAM interface used at present,
the pin count will be reduced.  These devices will also have increased
functionality including digital video input and output and a matrix geometry
processor.  The next logical extension will be to incorporate a high
performance CPU onto the same chip.  This line will be continued and more
sophisticated devices developed for applications such as HDTV.
    Engineering samples of the product are available now, with volume
production expected during March/April 2000.  Also available is an evaluation
board that enables software development on the PC or with an external
processor.

    This product information is also available on the WWW at:
http://www.fujitsu-fme.com/news/press/start.php3

    Further information on Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe's products is
available on its new WWW address at:  http://www.fujitsu-fme.com