Micronas announce latest full HD frame rate converter

Market research firms forecast a fast transition towards full high definition displays accompanied with the latest high frame rate 100/120Hz LCD technology, with predictions that the market could exceed 10 million LCD TVs in 2008. Driven by the need to eliminate motion blur and movie film judder that limits today's LCD TV performance, Micronas has announced its 4th generation FRC 94xyM Full HD frame rate converter IC - an advanced processing technology that generates 120 individual frames per second (fps) from 50/60Hz broadcast content and from 24 fps film source, delivering improved overall picture quality on high definition (1080p) displays.

The best proven method to overcome the motion blur effect on LCD TVs is to increase the image rate. The more images give a more realistic portrayal of motion. The FRC 94xyM generates 100/120 images per second using Micronas' truD FHD 120 technology. Product Marketing Manager at Micronas Johann Weierer says, “This system is the perfect answer for Full HD 100/120Hz LCD and Full HD high frame rate Plasma TVs. Sports and movies look as sharp and real as scenic panoramas, because the LCD-inherent motion blur and movie film judder are eliminated."

Film judder in movie content creates annoying flicker on larger, high brightness-and-contrast displays. De-juddering is the process of converting film, originally shot at 24 fps, to the TV display frame rates of 100/120Hz using motion vector estimation and compensation.

Micronas' truD FHD 120 motion compensation technology increases the frame rate by generating additional frames. This eliminates judder effects that can be experienced while watching cinema content from any source, either broadcast or the latest-generation media players, which offer low-frame-rate 24p output on a conventional flat panel TV.

The FRC 94xyM is sampling to qualified OEMs now and Micronas will demonstrate the device at the IFA 2007 in Berlin, Germany, from August 31st - September 5th, 2007.