"Core" breakthrough! Hisense released an 8K ultra-high-definition picture quality chip

In recent years, China has become the fastest innovative market for 8K terminals in the world, but it is also facing problems such as the development of core components such as audio and video processing chips, codec chips and mass production breakthroughs. On January 11, Hisense officially released the first self-designed 8K AI picture quality chip in China, handing over an answer sheet for the final year of the "Ultra-high-definition Video Industry Development Action Plan (2019-2022)".

The first self-designed 8K AI picture quality chip in China

Since 2019, China's ultra-high-definition video industry has developed rapidly, and 8K end-to-end technology has matured, but the development and mass production of SoC core chips, audio and video processing chips, codec chips, etc. are facing breakthroughs, especially large-size 8K TVs have increased the requirements for the performance of picture quality chips.

There are two types of companies that lay out picture quality chips worldwide, one is Sony, Samsung, Hisense and other TV companies, each of which has its own chip team to design picture quality chips for their own use; the second type is a professional chip company, which provides products to TV companies that do not have independent picture quality chip design capabilities. It is understood that many domestic TV brands have adopted the products of such professional chip companies, but it is difficult to form a differentiated competitiveness.

According to the reporter's understanding, Hisense started from the digital video processing chip, after more than 20 years of continuous research and development investment, in the past 7 years released 5 picture quality chips, to achieve from 2K, 4K to 8K iterative upgrades.

In 2015, Hisense Hi-View Pro ultra-high-definition picture quality engine chip generation ended the history of domestic TVs without their own picture quality chips. In 2017 and 2018, Hisense successively launched the second and third generations of ultra-high-definition image quality engine chips, and the third-generation chips were upgraded to 10,000-level partition control to promote the display industry's picture quality capabilities to a higher level. In 2020, the fourth generation of chips successfully lit up the stacked screen TV and achieved mass production, making breakthroughs in local image quality optimization functions such as MEMC (motion estimation motion compensation) and contrast.

This time, hisense's latest chip is the first 8K AI picture quality chip in China, which has achieved leapfrog development from 4K to 8K, increased the AI picture quality processing function, and achieved high-precision image processing compared with traditional engines by equipping artificial intelligence with "deep neural network" technology.

Hisense display scientist Charing said: "The relevant algorithms and technologies of this chip in the field of video processing are fully autonomous and controllable, can match the highest specifications of video streams, achieve full coverage of 2K/4K/8K, break the technical barriers in the field of image quality processing segmentation of Japanese and Korean enterprises, and set a benchmark for Chinese picture quality chips." ”

Yu Zongguang, deputy general manager of Zhongkexin Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd., pointed out that this 8K ultra-high-definition picture quality chip has achieved leapfrog development from 4K to 8K for the first time, which is of great significance in system design, logic scale and industry leadership.

Five iterations boosted the 4K/8K full terminal image quality

According to the reporter's understanding, Hisense's first four generations of picture quality chips have achieved mass production and are used in multi-field terminals, such as Hisense's world's first 4K 55-inch Mini-LED endoscopic surgical professional display. In addition, hisense benchmark broadcast monitor equipped with a fourth-generation picture quality chip will be put into use in the CCTV sports channel studio in 2021, and will be broadcast and produced in large-scale sports programs such as Euro 2020, the Tokyo Olympic Games, the National Games and the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.

At present, Hisense has completed five iterations of picture quality chips, which will fully cover the large display industries such as Hisense TV, Toshiba TV, broadcast-grade benchmark monitor, and medical professional display. It is understood that at present, this chip has been applied to the whole machine products, and the MiniLED TV 85U9H launched by Hisense with a self-developed 8K picture quality chip has been exhibited in CES 2022.

Charing said that 8K belongs to the relatively high-end positioning, in the future we hope to achieve breakthroughs and derivatives through this chip, sink hisense's accumulated picture quality experience and technology into 4K products, so that more consumers can improve their picture quality feelings in mid-range or even low-end products.

Yu Zhitao, president of Hisense Video Technology Company, said at the launch ceremony that Hisense unveiled the world's first 8K laser display exhibition program at CES2022, and will also launch 8K broadcast monitors and Micro LED TVs in the future to embrace 8K new horizons.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration of Radio and Television, and the Central Radio and Television Corporation jointly issued the "Ultra-high-definition Video Industry Development Action Plan (2019-2022)" to put forward the goal, by 2022, CMOS image sensors, optical lenses, professional video processing chips, codec chips and other core components have made breakthroughs, and 8K front-end core equipment will form industrialization capabilities.

Mei Jianping, executive deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-high-definition Video and Audio Production and Broadcasting of China Central Radio and Television Corporation and director of the Data Application Department of the Technology Bureau, pointed out that this year is the final year of the "Ultra-high-definition Video Industry Development Action Plan (2019-2022)", and the research and development of Hisense 8K AI picture quality chips represents fruitful results in the field of front-end core components, and hopes that Hisense will continue to provide strong technical support for the production of 8K ultra-high-definition content in the future.