DNP announces ASIC based on Apical’s real-time video IP
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tokyo, President: Yoshitoshi Kitajima, Capital :114,400 million yen, “DNP”) has announced an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) which implements Apical’s technology for dynamic correction of the contrast of digital video images in real time.
The product is designed to be embedded in video creation or display equipment. It automatically corrects portions of the images which are either too dark or too bright, such that the video stream is recorded or displayed in an optimal way.
Apical’s image enhancement software has been successfully adopted in digital cameras, mobile handsets and in PC software by leading manufacturers.
This product implements this technology in hardware. Software implementations require considerable CPU power to enhance video in real time on mobile devices. By developing an IC version, it is now possible to correct motion video in real-time in addition to handling still images.
» Background
As CMOS and CCD technology continues to develop, the amount of information which can be recorded by such sensors increases.
Because typical displays do not have the same ability to render such information when digital video is recorded and viewed, the information in bright portions and dark portions of the screen is lost: saturation of bright areas and clipping of dark areas occurs. Most common image compression systems preserve well only the information which is visible on common displays.
Informational loss is readily noticeable in motion video compression systems such as MPEG2, MPEG4, especially when high compression is used.
For these reasons, today there is an increasing requirement to reduce the loss of picture information at the time of recording as far as possible.
Correspondingly, where pre-recorded still images and motion video are displayed, if the dynamic range of the source exceeds that of the display, regions which are too bright or too dark are lost, unless suitable correction is applied.
» Product Features
This product addresses the above issues. When embedded in image capture/recording equipment, such as digital still cameras, digital camcorders and scanners, it corrects contrast and produces natural images without loss of detail.
Moreover, when embedded in a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or a projector, it allows the picture to be properly balanced for the display capabilities improving reproduction of detail in dark and bright areas, and improving overall picture quality.
» Application of this product
- Video capture/recording equipment – such as surveillance cameras, digital camcorders, and in-car cameras.
- Display equipment – such as a liquid crystal displays and projectors
- Other mobile imaging devices.
» Sales schedule and Sales target
DNP will sell this product in Japan on an exclusive basis. Sample shipping is scheduled for July 2005, and mass-production is scheduled to begin in October 2005.
» About Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP)
Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) was established in 1876 and is the world’s largest comprehensive printing company. The company’s diversified operations include packaging, decorative materials, electronic components and information media. DNP is the world’s leading supplier of high-tech photomasks and provides LSI design services for most major Japanese semiconductor companies. DNP has 35,000 employees and its net sales in fiscal 2004 were over 1.35 trillion yen. For more information, please visit
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Press and Public Relations
info@mail.dnp.co.jp
+81-3-5225-8220
» About Apical Limited (Apical)
Apical Limited is a privately-held UK technology company with offices in London and Yokohama. Since the launch of its first products in 2002, Apical has established a successful track record in the development and licensing of image processing software and hardware IP. The company’s proprietary technology enhances the performance of a wide range of imaging devices by optimising still image or video content between capture and display. Devices using Apical’s technology preserve the image detail and clarity which is lost by conventional image processing, so that the user sees the full quality of the source material.
» DNP Press Release (Japanese)
» DNP Press Release (English)