A single-chip 16-bit 25-ns real-time video/image signal processor

A single-chip 16-b microprogrammable real-time video/image signal processor (VISP) has been developed for use in real-time motion picture encoding during low-bit-rate transmission for TV conference systems. In addition to stand-alone microprocessor functional units, the VISP integrates a high-speed variable seven-stage pipeline arithmetic circuit for video/image data processing and various controllers for easy I/O (input/output) and multiple-chip connections A 25-ns instruction cycle time is attained by using complementary reduced-swing CMOS logic circuits. The chip (14 mm×13.4 mm) was fabricated using a double-metal-layer 1.2-μm CMOS process technology and contains 220000 transistors