Fujitsu is now the proud parent of the MB86297, a high-end graphic display controller (GDC) for navigation systems. Designed for the latest generation of automotive multimedia systems, it delivers high-performance graphics at speeds five times faster than any of its siblings (see the figure).
This GDC provides fully configurable instrument clusters in the form of versatile human-machine interfaces. It supports fogging, spotlighting on maps, zoom in/out, and lighting effects for added 3D realism. Also, it can render bird's eye and point-of-view images rapidly, with graphics that rival those found on desktop PCs. But perhaps most surprising of all is that it delivers all these abilities while using less than 2.3 W.
Raised with equality in mind, the MB86297 is compatible with the OpenGL ES 1.1 graphics application programming interface (API). Fujitsu also provides an OpenGL API, making software development mostly hardware-independent and ensuring your code will be portable.
The MB86297 outputs dual digital RGB signals ranging in resolution from 320 by 240 to 1280 by 1024 pixels. So, two displays can be simultaneously driven at different resolutions. Each output provides eight layers, and each layer supports alpha blending using an evenly applied transparency value.
Furthermore, the MB86297 has two inputs for independent capture of YUV or RGB signals. It can perform operations on the inputs, including scaling, brightness, contrast, and saturation controls. And not to be outdone by Fujitsu's other kids, the GDC's programmable geometry engine can draw up to 10 Mpolygons/s and can render 250 Mpixels/s.
Interfaces include a host PC166 and a 64-bit double-data-rate memory bus rated at 266 Mbits/s (133 MHz). Since Fujitsu is willing to clone its new child, you may adopt as many as you like for $30 each in 100,000-unit volumes.
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