In General, a DTV can be broken down into less than 10 major blocks; the display (and driver), core media engine, audio decoding and processing, video decoding and processing, tuner, interface block and power supply. The absolute performance demand on each block is defined by the performance level you experience from the comfort of your favorite chair. Many of the devices needed to develop what happens behind the screen are already in TI's product portfolio. Whether tapping into DLP® technology, DSP based digital media processors, other core processing solutions, or other high performance analog components, a high level of integration, flexibility and ease of use are needed for the rapidly evolving DTV market place. Leveraging high performance audio-video CODECs, graphics acceleration, communications and support is essential for the convergent applications designed into and around the home entertainment experience.
Core Subsystem include :
Video Signal Chain
Consumers probably place the heaviest weight on the video experience they have while watching TV. As such, resolution, brightness, contrast and clarity impact just how real the experience appears. It is critical for TVs to support multiple ATSC DTV formats, NTSC and PAL decoding, composite and S-Video inputs and 2D adaptive filtering. As HDTV rolls forward, supporting full HD at 1080i resolution with 3D adaptive filtering will be the standard.
Audio Signal Chain
In the past, consumers may have connected their TV to their home audio system in order to enhance the audio experience, especially when watching movies. Advances in audio solutions combined with the potential to place a TV in another location away from the home stereo, especially with wall mount DTVs, has driven the capability and need to integrate advanced audio solutions directly into the DTV. Also, speaker technologies have come to the point of letting you turn the entire display into a speaker element. But whether driving a surface-based or traditional speaker, the audio signal chain is crucial in maximizing the audio experience. Tradeoffs in an audio solution relate to the audio processing capability, audio output power, thermal dissipation and overall power consumed.
Power
Including the AC to DC conversion to create the main power for the DTV itself, most every functional block in the TV requires a particular power solution; DLP lamp, LCD bias, or backlight power for the display; core and I/O power for the main processor, DDR memory, as well as power for the tuner and video/analog signal chains. However, in this age of energy conservation, governments are continually enacting new policies and tightening existing programs covering the standby power consumption and efficiency of consumer products. Nearly all existing programs that govern televisions are voluntary, but the prospects of mandatory requirements loom.