Micronas
The first NSDC at RT-RK.
Beginnings
Micronas NIT was the first NSDC by RT-RK. Cooperation with Micronas GmbH (at the time ITT Intermetal) from Freiburg began in 1997 with projects in three major areas:
- DSP optimization – work on first voice codecs (G728, G723.1, G729) had continued with audio decoders’ AC3 and WMA speed and memory optimization
- Development of tools had started with DSP compactor (automatic code size optimization) and continued with C compiler
- Chip verification and FPGA rapid prototyping. First verification for WorldSpace – first single chip satellite radio. The activities had continued with digital TV SoC rapid prototyping
Team growth
The team had grown from 2001 (the year of Micronas NIT foundation) to 2009, from the first 17 up to 192 engineers. In 2009 Micronas decided to step out from the consumer business. Today, Micronas is part of TDK family known as TDK-Micronas GmbH.
Progress in major domains
TV software
From 2002 to 2009 the team had been engaged on analog SoCs (VCTX, VGCB, Premium) and digital TV SoCs (MDB, MDD, PremiumD) forming the native part of the software factory led by Dr. Uwe Strohbeck. At its peak this team had over 100 R&D engineers serving customers such as: Vestel, Grundig, Loewe, METZ, TechniSat, LG, Samsung, JVC, Panasonic, and many others.
From Micronas maket update, November 2007
TV set brands with software developed by Micronas NIT, 2004
IMAS, the first FPGA based platform for digital video processing developed at Micronas NIT
ATV32 team, painting by Radmila Padejski
DSP software
The activities had evolved from the initial porting of audio/voice decoders on MASx family of DSPs to new generations of DSPs including YDFP, DeCypher, and APX.
Debugging in a Micronas lab, Freiburg
Devices with MAS D/F DSP software: MP3 players, voice codec Toshiba G.729 standard
Images made during a JPEG project, 2001
From DSP software to development of tools, team
Tools
Development of the second-generation compiler with support for fix point Harvard architecture.
MAS DSP development tools, IDE
Paper for Telsiks 2001 on compiler design
Team working on MAS tools
Paper for Etran 2022 on compiler improvements
PC peripherals SoCs
One of the most interesting topics had been firmware customization for UACB, single chip USB audio SoC. The team had directly supported Microsoft XBOX development. This SoC had been the backbone of many new products developed by the team and brought the first royalties to RT-RK.
USB VoIP phone reference design
TELSIP VoIP USB TELFON, software developed by Micronas NIT
USB VoIP phone by Aardvark Innovation, Great Britain
USB phone integrated in Siemens healthcare apps
Major achievements in this period
- Team growth from 17 to 192 engineers
- TV knowledge boosting
- First time ISO 9001 and business processes certification
- Access to worldwide market and leading OEMs
Preparations before a Board of shareholders meeting in Zurich, NITRO robot
Bluetooth baseband development
On site at Magic4, Warrington, England, 2005
At Qualcomm, San Diego, 2005
Exporter of the year award in the category of small and medium enterprises, 2005
Tools development team
Bluetooth baseband FPGA development board
Mobile phones with our software: Siemens, Sagem, Sharp
At Qualcomm, San Diego, 2005
Members of the Serbian Academy Of Sciences And Arts visiting our TV software development lab
Digital design and small scale production, product ready for shipment
Engineering team, June 2003
Micronas NIT building
Team engaged on development of a modem, military grade
USB VoIP phone based on Micronas NIT reference design, AVANTEC, Hong-Kong
The team of Micronas NIT, June 2005
FPGA lab, July 2004
Power measurement app development board, Cirrus Logic
Lead engineers in TV software
USB 2in1 device for connection of Skype and PSTN lines with analogue phone, by KASER