Toshiba, SMSC Team on Advanced Auto Display SoCs.

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Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH and Hauppauge, N.Y.-based analog, digital and mixed-signal semiconductor provider SMSC have inked a licensing agreement under which Toshiba will integrate SMSC's media local bus (MediaLB) technology as an interface from its Capricorn SoC to a media oriented system transport (MOST) automotive multimedia network.

With the integration of MediaLB, Toshiba says its Capricorn ICs will be capable of interfacing with existing and upcoming MOST speed grades and physical layers. MOST is a de facto industry standard for automotive multimedia networking deployed by major European automobile manufacturers.

Christian Thiel, managing director of SMSC's automotive infotainment systems group said in a statement, "Players in the automotive environment are increasingly seeking ways to connect high bandwidth consumer applications into standard automobile networks based on MOST. In providing them a dedicated connectivity interface through MediaLB, we succeed in creating a more open and efficient environment that not only meets strict design requirements but enhances the end user experience."

"Automotive manufacturers are under pressure to reduce component counts and minimize system cost while delivering advanced, high-performance infotainment systems. Integrating SMSC's MediaLB technology into Toshiba's Capricorn SoC solutions allows those manufacturers to choose a single IC that will address the demanding requirements of dashboard and centre console displays, while significantly simplifying the integration of those displays into new and emerging MOST-based applications," said Thomas Kuschel, Senior Manager of Toshiba's microcomputer, automotive and consumer IC marketing in Europe.

MOST multimedia networking technology allows new classes of multimedia applications in automobiles by facilitating the efficient transport of real-time streaming multimedia, control and packet information over a single optical fiber or twisted pair wire, eliminating the need to run multiple wires throughout a vehicle, and enables automakers to decentralize infotainment functions into various components distributed around the vehicle.

MediaLB, available on all of SMSC's INICs, is a low cost, low pin count, serial on-PCB and inter-chip communication standard for multimedia applications. Its synchronous connection to the MOST network can transport diverse multimedia signals.

Toshiba said it's Capricorn-M and -L designs integrate into a single chip a powerful 64-bit processor, a floating point unit, an advanced graphical display controller with dedicated accelerator functions and a comprehensive range of on-board peripherals and interfaces for automotive displays.