SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pixelworks,
Inc. (NASDAQ: PXLW), a leading provider of innovative
video and display processing solutions, today announced its sixth
generation mobile visual processor, the first with low-power
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology built upon the Company's
extensive mobile display datasets and training models. The
Pixelworks i6 processor is the industry's first with an integrated
AI processing unit that adaptively optimizes overall picture
quality to produce a consistently superior visual experience across
widely-varying mobile viewing conditions.
The Pixelworks i6 processor utilizes AI to intelligently upscale
the dynamic range of video and gaming content while concurrently
optimizing contrast, sharpness, brightness and color temperature of
the display based on ambient lighting conditions, content
attributes, display characteristics and usage patterns for
always-cinematic visual quality. The new solution also supports
advancements in the Company's patented and industry-leading color
calibration and management as well as its unique always-on HDR
technology and precision HDR10/10+ tone mapping, with up to 40%
lower overall power consumption than its predecessor, the
Pixelworks i3 processor, formerly known as Iris 3.
The Pixelworks i6 Pro processor provides additional system-level
software optimization that ensures superior visual quality and
power efficiency at the highest possible refresh rates and
resolutions by intelligently mapping feature sets and modes across
the widest range of apps and use cases for LCDs as well as OLED
displays. Both solutions feature a broad set of auto-adaptive
display innovations by Pixelworks, including flicker-free DC
Dimming and Ultra-smooth Brightness Control for OLED displays and
Dynamic Brightness Control with 3X more video and gaming contrast
for LCD displays, as well as a new processing unit that preserves
sharpness, contrast and skin tone accuracy across all color gamuts
and viewing modes.
"With over two decades of display processing experience, we are
excited to unveil and sample our sought-after sixth generation
architecture to leading smartphone customers," said Todd DeBonis, President and CEO, Pixelworks.
"The i6 processor is the first dedicated processor using artificial
intelligence for key display features to put a truly cinematic
experience in the palm of consumers' hands for today's high-quality
photos, videos and games. We look forward to bringing this
technology to market with our partners in mid- and high-tier
smartphones."
"Our PureDisplay screen technology is designed to give everyone
a truly superior viewing experience," said Juho Sarvikas, Chief
Product Officer & Vice President North America at HMD Global,
the home of Nokia phones. "And with almost two thirds of videos
around the world being viewed on mobile, our PureDisplay technology
- powered by Pixelworks - delivers incredible HDR videos for higher
contrast, great clarity and enhanced colours across all your
content. I would like to congratulate the team on the introduction
of the Pixelworks i6 processor and am super excited to take our
PureDisplay experience to the next level."
"Pixelworks continues to be a reliable and innovative partner
with the proven performance that has helped establish Display
Greatness across our portfolio of TCL branded smartphones with
NXTVision technology," said Michael
Chen, General Manager of the Global Product Center at TCL
Communication. "The Pixelworks i6 processor that features their new
AI based solution to help elevate the entertainment experience is
an exciting step forward in adaptive visual processing and why we
continue to partner so closely with Pixelworks on our TCL mobile
devices."
"We are excited about our ongoing collaboration with Pixelworks
and our joint track record of pushing the display performance
envelope in successive smartphones in both the gaming category and
flagship tier," said Bryan Chang,
General Manager, Smartphone Business Unit at ASUS. "The Pixelworks
i6 processor, with its new AI based architecture, is a testament to
the innovations from Pixelworks that continue to advance visual
quality for a wide range of entertainment and smartphone
experiences of consumers wherever they go."
New Architecture for Advanced Visual Processing
The
Pixelworks i6 processor dramatically improves video and image
quality and sets a new standard for picture quality on both LCD and
OLED mobile displays with a new AI-driven architecture and dynamic
refresh rate support for up to 144 Hz. The new and enhanced
features include:
- Dedicated AI processing unit – Lightweight AI display
inferencing that augments the Company's fuzzy logic IP to
adaptively and intelligently optimize overall picture quality for
video, games and photos at low power.
- AI scene detection – Provides optimal real time
SDR-to-HDR conversion for videos, games and photos, while
dynamically tuning local contrast and sharpness for an always-on
HDR experience with superior visual quality.
- AI adaptive display – Analyzes ambient light conditions,
settings, and the content to intelligently adjust daylight view
controls for even more perceptually accurate display under a
variety of lighting conditions.
- Skin Tone Accuracy – Dynamically detects and
protects skin tones for a more natural look across color gamuts and
custom viewing modes.
- Dark Noise Suppression – Dynamically reduces visual
background "noise" in low-light videos and photos.
- Color Calibration 3.0 – Takes industry-leading color
accuracy to new heights with colors that are indistinguishable from
perfect with simple and quick one-pass tests easily deployable on
the factory floor.
The new i series naming encompasses both the Pixelworks i3
(formerly Iris 3) and the new i6 processor and uses the existing
chip numbering. The Company's existing premium tier solution – Iris
5 – becomes part of the X series and is renamed the Pixelworks X5
processor. More information is available here.
Availability
The Pixelworks i6 processor is sampling
now to lead customers and is expected to be in commercial
production in Q4 2020.
About Pixelworks
Pixelworks provides industry-leading
content creation, video delivery and display processing solutions
and technology that enable highly authentic viewing experiences
with superior visual quality, across all screens – from cinema to
smartphone and beyond. The Company has a 20-year history of
delivering image processing innovation to leading providers of
consumer electronics, professional displays and video streaming
services. Pixelworks is headquartered in San Jose, CA. For more information, please
visit the company's web site at www.pixelworks.com.
Note: Pixelworks and the Pixelworks logo are registered
trademarks of Pixelworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
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forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may
be identified by use of terms such as "begin," "continue," "will,"
"expect", "believe," "anticipate" "projected" and similar terms or
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statements about the launch dates of smartphones containing
Company's products. Such statements are based on management's
current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's
business. These statements are not guarantees of future performance
and involve numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are
difficult to predict. Actual results could vary materially from
those contained in forward looking statements due to many factors,
including, without limitation: our ability to execute on our
strategy; competitive factors; the success of our products in
expanded markets; current global health and economic challenges,
including the impact of COVID-19; and changes in our target
markets, including as to demand. More information regarding
potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results
and could cause actual results to differ materially from those
discussed in the forward-looking statements is included from time
to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2019 as well as
subsequent SEC filings.
The forward-looking statements contained in this release are
as of the date of this release, and the Company does not undertake
any obligation to update any such statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Pixelworks, Inc.