System-on-a-chip market growing
Texas Instruments aims to tap demand for TV set-top boxes, personal digital assistants, and cell phones.
The market for inexpensive and versatile integrated chips is growing proportionately to the growth of demand for TV set-top boxes, personal digital assistants, and cell phones, consumer devices that require inexpensive "embedded" microprocessors. As an example of its attraction for manufacturers, noted chipmaker Cirrus stated its system-on-a-chip goals last year, and is expected to release its version in 1999.
TI's new chip integrates video, audio, and graphics on the chip, which is designed to run on Integrated Systems' operating system for set-top boxes. According to Gray, the AV700 integrates the functions of 17 different chips.
Gray said the chip will be available sometime this spring. Pricing has not yet been determined.