Samsung El.gdr Regulatory News (SMSN)

15 Jul 2008 10:14

SAMSUNG COMMENCES DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE EMBEDDED 3-D HDTV CHIP

Los Angeles, California (July 15th, 2008) ⎯ DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces that following the successful conclusion of the market research phase, Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. ('Samsung') has confirmed that it is proceeding with the development and manufacture of a low cost 3-D chip based on DDD's TriDef® 3-D functions for Samsung's next generation 3-D HDTVs.

The license agreement was announced in February this year and allows Samsung to design and mass manufacture the low cost chip based upon DDD's TriDef real-time 2-D to 3-D conversion and 3-D image processing architecture. The chip can be used in a variety of 3-D HDTVs including plasma, LCD and DLP televisions. An advance royalty of approximately £165,000 is now due under the terms of the license agreement. 

During the next few months, DDD expects Samsung to provide guidance on the number of next generation 2009 3-D HDTV models that will include the chip once Samsung has concluded the product planning for their 2009 model range.

Chris Yewdall, Chief Executive of DDD said: "We are pleased to report that the five year license agreement with Samsung is now in effect following a successful conclusion to the market research with consumers and studio executives using the prototype 3-D HDTVs. We are excited that Samsung's next generation 3-D HDTVs will be based on DDD's embedded TriDef 3-D platform and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum."

Notes to Editors

About DDD

DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with applications for 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing with and without glasses; simple integration of computer graphics applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM: DDD). 

Background

A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images both with and without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included in mobile phones in Japan and Korea and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan.

DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2D) software applications and content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD's solutions also enable automatic conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D without any pre-processing of the 2D image.

DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef® and DDD Mobile™ brand names, to consumer electronics manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to their end users. DDD also licenses its software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel. DDD's customers include Sharp Corporation, Samsung and Arisawa Manufacturing Company.

In February 2008 Samsung and DDD entered into an development and license agreement to integrate DDD's TriDef 3D real time 2D to 3D conversion solution and 3D image processing architecture in a custom 3D image processing chip that will form the basis of Samsung's next generation 3D HDTVs.

In February 2008 Samsung and DDD entered into an agreement to supply DDD's TriDef 3D Experience software solution as part of Samsung's 3-D accessory pack for their range of 3-D ready plasma and DLP rear projection HDTVs.

In February 2008 DDD delivered the first embedded 3-D HDTV processor for the Hyundai IT 46" 3-D LCD TV that is based on Arisawa Manufacturing's X-Pol 3-D materials. The TriDef Core processor decodes the 3-D television signal being broadcast to consumers in Japan on the BS11 TV network as well as converting high definition 2-D content to 3-D automatically.

In September 2007 Samsung launched a range of 3-D Ready DLP® rear projection HDTVs in North America. DDD's TriDef 3D Experience software solution enables a range of popular entertainment to be enjoyed in 3-D and is available in various accessory packs including 3-D glasses. The 3-D accessory packs are available online from DDD.com and other retail and distribution channels. DDD also supplies software that allows popular PC games to be played in 3-D on the new HDTVs.

In July 2007 Samsung released the SCH-B710 'glasses-free' 3D mobile telephone in South Korea. DDD entered into a development and license agreement with Samsung Electronics allowing Samsung to include DDD's 3D mobile telephone software solution in Samsung's SCH-B710 3D mobile telephone. The license agreement yields a royalty to DDD for each handset manufactured. Samsung renewed its exclusive rights for DDD's real time 2D to 3D conversion capabilities for use on 3D mobile phones in Korea in October 2006.

More information is available at www.DDD.com.

Trademarks:

DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments. TriDef and DDD Mobile are trademarks of DDD Group plc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.