We’ve previously covered Hisilicon Hi3861V100 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller, but HiSilicon Hi3731V110 32-bit RISC-V processor designed for Full HD televisions, the company has gone up the scale with its RISC-V offerings.
The processor is equipped with an M-LVDS interface for TCON panels, CVBS output, YPbPr, VGA, and multiple HDMI 1.4 video inputs. The processor also comes with a 1080p30 VPU supporting H.265, H.264, MPEG4, MPEG2, and other codecs.
HiSilicon Hi3731V110 key specifications:
- 32-bit single-core RISC
- GPU – 2D graphics accelerator
- Memory – Integrated 512-Mbit DDR SDRAM
- Storage I/F – SPI flash support
- Video I/F
- 3x HDMI inputs with CEC, HDCP 1.4, up to 1080p60. Once supports ARC (See Audio)
- YPbPr/RGB interface
- CVBS output
- Video Decoding – 1080p30 H.265, H.264, H.263. MPEG2, MPEG4, VC1
- Image Decoding – JPEG hardware decoding up to 64 megapixels
- Analog TV
- IF Demodulation for – All analog TV standards, including M/N, B/G/H, D/K, I, L, and L’
- NTSC PAL SECAM video demodulation
- Audio
- Interfaces – S/PDIF, HDMI ARC channel, 3x stereo inputs, 2x stereo outputs
- Multi-Format Audio Demodulation – SIF demodulation, NICAM, A2, EIA-J, and BTSC, etc…
- Audio sampling rate conversion, Volume, equalization, and mute control, surround audio, etc…
- Audio Decoding – DTS, MPEG L1/L2, MP3, AACLPCM, FLAC; options: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
- HiSilicon Graphics Engine Hi Imprex VI Engine
- USB – 2x USB 2.0. host ports
- Security – AES data encryption and decryption
- Other I/Os – 1x IR receiver, 1x keypad interface, 1x I2C interface. 1x UART, GPIOs
The company further explains the processor is suitable for 2-layer PCB designs, supports various low power modes, as well as wakeup by HDMI or VGA. HiSilicon provides Huawei LiteOS real-time operating system for the processor, and we should not expect fancy user interfaces since there’s no 3D GPU, only a 2D GPU.
HiSilicon Hi3731V110 RISC-V processor will probably be reserved for entry-level televisions for mainland China and emerging markets. A few more details may be found on the product page.
Via GizmoChina
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At least it’s not 720p.
Any infos about the package? Is it hand solderable? Would maybe be something for @dgp 😉
HiSilicon have Cortex A7s in a QFN88 so maybe this will be similar.
If it’s possible to get mainline running without killing yourself then certainly interesting.
If just chip manufacturers would understand the benefit of mainline…
@dgp could I ask you to have a look at my post under the sigmastar news from about a week ago? Thanks!
Still wondering how long it will take until st, nxp, microchip etc. Will complement their cortex M MCUs with something more like this. But already AVRs are no more hand soldered but replaced by Arduinos and blue pills on bread boards…
Might be a nice soc to make a IP KVM.
Nice idea, except that there is no real network interface, other than potentially a USB 2.0 WiFi or Ethernet interface. But more problematic is the lack of USB gadget capabilities, I imagine. While there is a SPI interface for flash, and spare GPIO’s for Chip Select lines, using the same SPI interface as the flash for a MAX3420 could be problematic. I *guess* one might find an equivalent interface via I2C…
Also, the lack of any video encoding makes it a huge challenge.
It’s got an odd mix of hardware for anything but a pretty dumb TV controller. No networking, so most streaming services are out. Yes, you could put a USB ethernet or wireless on there, but you could only do *one* of them if you plan on leaving an exposed port for USB storage playback. Or you have to add a hub which just blows up the BOM even more.
Clearly they intend to do some kind of video decoding/playback functions as they put a lot of silicon into the decoders for some modern formats. That’s way more than you’d need for some silly startup animation. Maybe they’re for digital TV signals? What’s the TV situation like in China?
Why wouldn’t they put a lot of decoders in this? That’s what it’s for.
It seems like it should have Audio Video Standard (AVS) though.
My point there is “where is it getting anything to decode?” It’s got no storage interface or networking other than two USB 2.0 ports.
The product page mentions playing videos from a USB drive.
I couldn’t find a page for it. Searching at their site for the part number returns nothing, either. The other chip you mention has wifi built in, so that leaves two USB host ports for storage and ethernet. This one with just the two USB has to pick two of: wifi, storage, ethernet
It’s at the top of Hi3731V110 product page:
My mistake, I didn’t see the datasheet link at the bottom. I saw the one at the top for the older sheet and went there, realized my mistake, and searched on their site for the product–resulting in nothing. I didn’t see the link that the bottom.
It really looks like this is meant for a completely non-networked player, then.