The CH7017 integrates functions that would otherwise require three separate chips: a dual low-voltage differential signal (LVDS) transmitter able to support all flat-panel resolutions at a 60-Hz refresh rate, a display scaler to adjust pixel resolution automatically to fill the display screen, and a TV encoder to send video signals to an NTSC or PAL television. An alternative chip, the CH7019, omits the scaling feature.

David Soo, Chrontel's president and chief executive officer, noted that consumers are demanding direct video output to conventional TVs so that information, presentations, movies and games can be shared with multiple viewers, he said.

"To support all graphics formats from VGA (640 x 480 pixels) to QXGA (2,048 x 1,536) and also support automated 2-D scaling and direct analog video output, OEMs have needed as many as three chips," he said. "Integrating all of these video display options in a single device lowers the complexity and parts counts of next-generation computers."

The CH7017 and CH7019 are both in production and are packaged in 128-pin LQFPs. They are priced from $7.50 and $5.50, respectively, in quantities of 1,000. The chips come with Windows and DOS driver support.

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www.chrontel.com