Nexperia (processor)
Nexperia was NXP's brand for media and mobile SoCs.
Nexperia was the brand used by NXP Semiconductors (originally Philips Semiconductors) for a range of processors, mainly media processor system-on-chip (SoC) devices and media co-processors, with a short-lived line of highly integrated mobile SoCs. The media processors grew out of the earlier TriMedia series, while the mobile side included application processors, imaging co-processors, and baseband and RF components.
The media processor line began with the PNX1300, a basic chip for DVD players, set-top boxes, and internet appliances. It ran a 200 MHz TriMedia CPU core, handled DVD decryption and descrambling, offered partial hardware acceleration for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 decoding, and included 10/100 Ethernet support. It was designed as a pin-compatible upgrade to the TriMedia TM-1300.
The PNX1500 followed as a media processor SoC with a 266 MHz TriMedia TM3260 CPU core, 2D graphics acceleration, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 decoding, and 10/100 Ethernet. It was code-compatible with the PNX1300.
Announced in March 2005, the PNX1700 was an HD media processor SoC for connected media devices such as set-top boxes, PVRs, and TVs. It featured a 500 MHz TriMedia TM5250 CPU core, 10/100 Ethernet, and an LCD controller. It could decode HD video formats including Windows Media Video, DivX, MPEG-4, and MPEG-2, and could simultaneously encode and decode full D1 resolution MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video, with support for H.264. It was pin-compatible with the PNX1500.
The PNX5100 was a full-HD video post-processor.
On the mobile side, Philips had been making Nexperia chips since 1999. The PNX4000, publicly launched in November 2003, was an imaging co-processor for mid-range camera phones. It appeared in several Sony Ericsson models before its official announcement: the P800 (September 2002), P900 (January 2003), and P910 (2004).
The Nexperia 6100 platform, launched in February 2005, was a cellular system solution built around an ARM9 processor with EDGE support and Java with JSR 135 Mobile Multimedia API. It powered the 2006 Samsung SGH-P200.
Also launched in February 2005, the Nexperia 7130 platform extended the 6100 with support for 2.75G/EDGE and 3G/UMTS.
The Nexperia 5130 platform was a $5 part aimed at enabling low-cost basic phones (around $20), using an ARM7 baseband processor (OM6357).
- Brand
- Nexperia (NXP Semiconductors, formerly Philips Semiconductors)
- First mobile chip production
- 1999
- Pnx1500 cpu core
- 266 MHz TriMedia TM3260
- Pnx1700 cpu core
- 500 MHz TriMedia TM5250
- Pnx4008 process node
- 90 nm
- Pnx4008 3d graphics
- PowerVR from Imagination Technologies (80 MHz: 160 Mpix/s, 1 Mpolygons/s)
- Pnx5230 system controller core
- 130 MHz ARM946E-S
Lore & Background
Philips Semiconductor began producing processors for multimedia applications under the TriMedia brand, with later model SoC processors sold under the Nexperia brand. The PNX1300 was a basic media processor for DVD players and set-top boxes, featuring a 200 MHz TriMedia CPU core and partial hardware acceleration for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 decoding. Its successor, the PNX1500, used a 266 MHz TriMedia TM3260 core and added 2D graphics acceleration. The PNX1700, announced in March 2005, was an HD media processor with a 500 MHz TriMedia TM5250 core capable of decoding HD video formats including Windows Media Video, DivX, MPEG-4, and MPEG-2, with support for H.264 and simultaneous encode/decode of full D1 resolution video.
Philips Semiconductor had been producing Nexperia mobile chips since 1999. The PNX4000 imaging co-processor was publicly launched in November 2003 and appeared in Sony Ericsson phones as early as September 2002. The Nexperia 6100 platform, launched in February 2005, included an ARM9 processor and EDGE support, and was used in the 2006 Samsung SGH-P200. The PNX4008 SoC, launched on February 7, 2005, was the first 90 nm ARM9 SoC CPU, featuring PowerVR 3D graphics and security IP from Discretix. It was used in several Sony Ericsson phones including the P990, P1, M600, W950, and W960. In September 2006, Philips formed NXP as a spin-out of their semiconductor division, and the PNX4008 became the foundation for the subsequent LPC processor series from NXP.
Reader's Guide
The Nexperia brand represented a significant transition in Philips Semiconductor's processor strategy, bridging the TriMedia media processor line with integrated mobile SoCs. The media processors, such as the PNX1500 and PNX1700, targeted connected media devices like set-top boxes, PVRs, and TVs, with the PNX1700 notably supporting HD video formats and H.264 codec. The mobile processors, particularly the PNX4008, demonstrated early adoption of 90 nm process technology and integrated PowerVR 3D graphics, enabling hardware-accelerated graphics in mobile phones. The PNX4008's low power usage was claimed to allow up to 100 hours of uninterrupted audio playback on MP3 players. The Nexperia mobile line ended after the formation of the ST-NXP Wireless joint venture in 2008 and subsequent merger to form ST-Ericsson in 2009, which launched later mobile processors under the NovaThor brand. The PNX5230 baseband chip, featuring a 130 MHz ARM946E-S core, was used in popular models like the Samsung SGH-E250 slider phone.
Did You Know?
- The PNX4008 was the first 90 nm ARM9 SoC CPU, launched on February 7, 2005.
- The Nexperia 6100 platform, launched in February 2005, supported Java with JSR 135 Mobile Multimedia API.
- The PNX4008 SoC became the foundation for NXP's subsequent LPC processor series.
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