Samsung El.gdr Regulatory News (SMSN)

26 Jun 2008 09:35

SAMSUNG COMPLETES DEVELOPMENT STAGE FOR EMBEDDED 3-D HDTV CHIP

Los Angeles, California (June 26th, 2008) ⎯ DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces that Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. ('Samsung') has completed the prototype development phase for the integration of DDD's TriDef® 3-D functions into a low cost 3-D chip for Samsung's next generation 3-D HDTVs.

The agreement was announced in February this year and involved DDD and Samsung collaborating to implement DDD's TriDef real-time 2-D to 3-D conversion and 3-D image processing architecture. The development fee of approximately £107,000 has been received based on the successful achievement of all the technical milestones for the prototype chip that was completed as expected within the first half of 2008. 

Following completion of the prototype development phase, market research is now underway with consumers and Hollywood studios prior to commencing the next phase of the project.

Chris Yewdall, Chief Executive of DDD said: "We are pleased to report that the development phase of this project is now complete with Samsung's engineers having successfully implementing our TriDef 2-D to 3-D conversion in their prototype 3-D HDTVs. Interest in the emerging 3-D TV market continues to grow and we remain squarely focused on building upon our lead and securing further development and licensing agreements in the TV market."

Enquiries:

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.