This issue, one technology announcement in particular snagged my attention: the MQ-200, flagship product by a just-announced company named MediaQ (an embedded technology company founded entirely by Silicon Valley semiconductor veterans). The MQ-200 is, according to MediaQ, "the industry's first LCD/CRT 2D graphics controller with embedded DRAM [intended] for incorporation into consumer electronic appliances (CEAs)."

Doesn't that just rivet your attention?

Graphics controllers that are currently designed for CEAs are descendants of or adapted from graphics controllers from desktop computers. Much like how operating systems don't always translate well to the mobile space, hardware does not always downsize gracefully either. Power, for example, becomes a primary concern when "going mobile", as the user will most likely not have access to an electrical outlet.

Additionally, all mobile CEA graphics solutions currently have their frame buffering and display memory performed by the system rather than a graphics processor. The MQ-200 has 2MB of embedded DRAM to eliminate dedicated display memory from the system. At 12mm x 12mm, the MQ-200 is the smallest of any embedded systems display device currently available, and is the first to integrate the frame-buffer directly into the architecture.

Think of it this way. Current first-person video games use a huge chunk of processor power in order to crunch the math to produce first-person perspective views. By integrating a standalone processor whose only function is to crunch 3-D graphics numbers, relieving your main processor of that burden and allowing it to concentrate on more important matters-such as trying to kill you-you dramatically improve both your three-dimensional graphics capabilities and your application performance speed. This standalone processor is called a 3D Accelerator.

Similarly, by introducing a standalone processor into mobile consumer electronic devices whose only function is to crunch two-dimensional graphics numbers, you produce a system whose graphics are dramatically improved and responsive, as well as a central processing unit that actually stands a chance to be speedy and impress you. MediaQ has designed what they claim is the first ever 2D graphics accelerator that does exactly that: the MQ-200.

Power consumption by the MQ-200 is tailored to the mobile consumer electronics space. MediaQ claims that "the MQ-200 easily supports high-performance, high-resolution systems with total system power budgets of less than four watts, compared to typical notebook PC system power budgets of 20 watts and more." Windows CE power management modes are directly supported. Reputedly, the MQ-200 reduces display system power consumption by up to 66 percent.

MediaQ provides OEMs with a complete system solution, including software drivers, hardware reference platform support, development tools, and software tools. The MQ-200 supports a wide variety of CPUs, including the Hitachi SH-4, Intel StrongARM, NEC VR41xx, and Toshiba Tx39xx family of processors. In addition, a PCI host bus provides a standardized, high performance interface for other microprocessor architectures and HARP development platforms.

The MQ-200 solution is currently sampling with production quantities set for third quarter 1999 and pricing of US$28 in quantities of 1000.

Contact MediaQ Incorporated
3303 Octavius Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-588-0080 phone
408-588-0084 fax
www.mediaq.com

- Andrew J. Breitenbach