Fujitsu technology used in a digital video coding LSI and a transmission system receives Fiscal 2013 Commendation for Science and Technology from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Five Fujitsu engineers, who developed technologies used in a digital video coding LSI and a transmission system, have won the Fiscal 2013 Commendation for Science and Technology Prize (Development Category), which was awarded by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The award ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 16th at the auditorium of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT

The award ceremony of the Fiscal 2013 Commendation for Science and Technology from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

The Commendation for Science and Technology is awarded by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to individuals who have been particularly successful in areas such as research and development and promoting understanding of science and technology. By celebrating successes in these areas, the award is intended to increase the motivation of people involved in science and technology and improve the level of science and technology in Japan.

Development technology

Due to the popularity of digital terrestrial broadcasting and large-screen television sets, video content is increasingly displayed with high-definition (HD) images. In addition public internet networks such as FTTH are increasing the speed and reducing the price of public internet. As a result, there was a need for new technology to be developed for recording and transmitting HD images at a low rate, with high quality, and at low cost.

The winners developed three technologies:
1) "High-quality encoding and low-power consumption process circuit technology corresponding to H.264" utilizing human visual features,
2) "FEC+ARQ hybrid error correction technology" with high performance data error correction in the IP network,
3) "Technology for inhibiting image quality degradation" that reduces the color degradation completely when the image is transmitted through multiple relay points.

With these developments, the winners became the first to develop a digital video coding LSI and a transmission system that met this need. The technology has since been applied to various consumer products such as PCs, cameras, and recorders. Now everyone can easily enjoy high-quality HD images and broadcast stations are able to utilize HD images in a wide range of areas because they can transmit these for professional use at low cost via a cheap public IP network.

Award certificate from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Award recipients (left to right)
Shunsuke Kobayashi, Fujitsu Kyushu Network Technologies Limited
Hideki Miyasaka, Director, Security Solution Unit, Fujitsu Limited
Akira Nakagawa, Director, Image System Laboratory, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.
Tatsushi Ohtsuka, Project Manager, Advanced Products Business Unit, Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
Yasuhiro Watanabe, Senior Researcher, Platform Technologies Laboratories, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.