Kenwood Selects Sage's FLI2200/2220 Display Processor Products For 2001 Progressive Scan DVD Players And DVD Changers

Powered By Sage Deinterlacer And Video Enhancer, Kenwood DVD Players And Changers Offer Significant Video Advancements

1-Mar-01

Sage Inc. (NASDAQ: SAGI), a leading provider of digital display processors for consumer technology and PC display products, announced that Kenwood Corporation, a leading manufacturer of audio and video products, has selected the Sage FLI2200 deinterlacer and the FLI2220 digital video enhancer for use in its 2001 model year progressive scan DVD players and DVD changers. Kenwood was able to achieve a higher quality video in their DVD players and changers by implementing Sageís award-winning video processing technology, thus enabling the highest video quality at reduced system costs. ""The performance and quality of the Sage deinterlacer and video enhancer give our progressive scan DVD players superior video performance,"" stated Bob Law, Vice President of Kenwood USA Corporation. ""We were impressed by the ability of Sageís Directional Correlational Deinterlacing technology to produce smooth, natural images and eliminate the ëstaircasingí and ëjaggiesí produced by all other deinterlacing technologies."" The FLI2200 is the worldís first 10-bit single-chip motion adaptive deinterlacer that incorporates recently acquired Faroudja Laboratoriesí EmmyÆ Award-winning deinterlacing and post-processing algorithms to convert standard interlaced video signals into progressive scan signals. Deinterlacing provides markedly improved video quality in a variety of consumer technology and PC display products ranging from DVD players and TVs to flat-panel monitors. The FLI2200 boasts a number of industry-first features including proprietary Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDiô). The DCDi algorithm eliminates the jagged edges seen on moving angled lines in video images. Other advanced performance capabilities include motion adaptive deinterlacing with optimal filtering on a per pixel basis and motion adaptive cross color suppression. It also features film mode for proper handling of 3:2 and 2:2 pulldown as well as bad edit detection/correction, technologies invented and patented by Faroudja Laboratories. The FLI2200 supports 8/10-bit ITU-R BT656, 16/20-bit YUV and 24/30-bit RGB, YCrCb and YPrPb interlaced inputs and progressive outputs with auto detection of NTSC/PAL/SECAM inputs. The FLI2220 video enhancer, unlike conventional video sharpening circuits, enhances the image both horizontally and vertically to create the clearest possible image. The patented nonlinear algorithms enhance the small details and colors in images, and improve depth perception by sharpening large edges without introducing visual artifacts or distorting the image.""Selection of the FLI2200 and FLI2220 by Kenwood, a leading manufacturer of audio and video products, reaffirms the unparalleled picture quality and value offered by the entire product family,"" said Dr. Nikhil Balram, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Products at Sage. ""With proprietary features such as DCDi, film mode and the nonlinear algorithms of the video enhancer, the FLI product family offers unrivaled video quality based on the strong Faroudja patent portfolio and its long history of video excellence. Kenwood's selection of the deinterlacer and enhancer chip set is another important design win that continues the momentum Sage is realizing with the entire product family,"" added Dr. Balram. According to CIBC, the overall DVD market is expanding rapidly and is estimated to grow from 31 million units in 2001 to 71 million units in 2004. ""With the rapid market growth, we expect progressive scan DVD players, progressive scan DVD changers and progressive scan TVs to provide a significant market opportunity for the FLI product family,"" added Dr. Balram.The new Kenwood progressive scan DVD players and changers will be available worldwide in the second half of 2001. For more information about Kenwood, visit www.kenwoodusa.com. For more information about Sage, visit www.sageinc.com.

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