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Chapter 1028 Multiple Processor
"Yes, Professor, I'm Su Chen." Su Chen stretched out his hand, "Professor Nicholas, nice to meet you."

Nicholas shook hands with him and said, "Hello, Su, you have been to Massachusetts before, but I happened to be away, and I finally saw you today, but I would like to ask what project you want to establish?"

Now it is considered to be a formal meeting.

Su Chen didn't talk nonsense, and said straight to the point: "I want to set up two audio-visual systems, and this happens to be the strength of Media Lab."

"Then talk about it." Nicholas said, "I need to know what you want before I can reply whether you can research it, or your statement is too general."

"This involves signal digital processing. I want to study two subjects: speech signal processing and image signal processing."

Su Chen tried his best to tell Nicholas what he knew, "Let's talk about this speech signal processing project first, which involves a new digital audio coding and lossy compression format.

Based on DSP real-time hardware decoding, develop a device that can listen to music even though it is only the size of a cigarette case. "

"You mean to redefine the current music format into a new format, and then listen to the music through the device you mentioned?" Nicholas asked curiously.

Su Chen nodded. As expected of a person with a superior IQ, he immediately heard what he wanted.

"Yes, because there are many music formats now, but they cannot be applied to the device I mentioned, so I want to develop new digital audio coding and formats, and play them through such a device."

Su Chen said, "At present, I already have people in Hong Kong conducting research and development in this area, but my scientific research center in Hong Kong is not as good as Media Lab."

"Then you talk about this image signal processing."

"The digital signal processor DSP is also used to complete the task of processing transmission and decoding MP4 files. The working principle is that the DSP is in charge of the data transmission of the device, device interface control, file decoding and playback and other activities.

DSP needs to complete a variety of processing tasks in a very short time, and this process consumes very little energy, and it is also a brand new movie format. "

Su Chen explained: "My ultimate goal is to be able to watch movies on a device the size of a cigarette case, which basically works on the same principle as the MP3 I mentioned.

It’s just that one is for listening to music, and the other is for watching movies, but I only have ideas and don’t know how to do it, so I came here to set up such a project to study these two sub-projects. "

Nicholas thought about it for a while, "It sounds very interesting. It is not a small challenge for us to redefine a brand new music format and movie format, and to develop such two devices."

"I plan to invest 500 million US dollars to establish such a scientific research project." Su Yu said, "And if necessary, I will continue to invest more, but all scientific research results must belong to me."

Because he didn't have any ready-made equipment, and he didn't know how to get it.

I can only tell Nicholas what I think, and let him take people to set up such a project.

Naturally, this research funding cannot be underestimated.

In fact, Nicholas only knew what Su Chen wanted, but he didn't know how to do it.

Nicholas was silent for a while: "Although I don't know what you want, but your sincerity has moved me, buddy, I will accept your project."

The main reason is that the laboratory lacks money.

And it's hard to come across such a generous benefactor.

Although he roughly knew what Su Chen wanted, he didn't even have a direction, which meant that the research was very difficult.

So, it takes a lot of money.

"But I need the materials and working principles of your scientific research center. I believe they already have some eyebrows, which will save us a lot of detours." Nicholas said.

Su Chen nodded immediately: "Of course there is no problem, I will let the Hong Kong side bring materials and people over now, and my ultimate goal is to make this equipment as small as possible.

The best form of my ideal MP3 is only the size of a lighter, and its storage format is preferably NAND flash memory, so as to ensure that the data is not easy to lose, and at the same time, it needs a larger capacity to store more content.

And this MP4 requires both the central processing unit and the DSP to have higher processing power, and to have a certain system memory, not only the processor of video data and image data, but also to realize various functions, for example, digital companion, Video capture, DC, FM, Game..."

"Wait." Nicholas stopped abruptly, "If you want to make this device the size of a lighter, it means that all the storage disks on the market are not suitable.

In addition, you are not trying to define a brand-new audio-visual mode, but to subvert the past software and hardware from beginning to end, to redesign and define, right? "

"Yes, Professor."

Nicholas suddenly realized, "No wonder you will readily give 500 million US dollars in research funding, but in this way, your project really needs so much money.

First of all, we need to study brand-new music and movie formats, and we also need to study the CPU and storage chips inside, and make it as small as possible. Do you have any other requirements besides these? "

"I want to fit our self-developed lithium battery in it." Su Chen said, "It needs to be small and full-featured. For example, when listening to music, you can use the physical button to realize the next song or pause. playback function.

At the same time, it is best to be able to carry a small screen that allows the user to see what song is currently playing. "

Nicholas quickly recorded what Su Chen said.

While recording, I read, "There must be a screen, there must be buttons, and there must be a battery, and you must be able to see what is currently playing. Do you have any requirements other than these?"

Su Chen thought about it seriously, "I can only think of these for the time being, can I tell you the rest when I think of them?"

"Of course." Nicholas put down his pen and said with a smile, "At first I thought you were just an economist, but I didn't expect your thinking to be so advanced.

And I believe that if these two devices are researched, they will definitely be able to subvert the entire microelectronics market. Although I am not a businessman, I have already seen its prospects.

After all, it is small and exquisite, easy to carry, and its function is not inferior to that of a Walkman. Such a product must be very attractive. "

Professor Brown said next to him, "If it is really developed, I believe you will be embarrassed by big companies like record companies and Sony. After all, you are going to subvert the record industry, and you will also defeat Sony and Panasonic's gadgets. .”

"Although I am an economist, I am also a businessman. Since there is no way to beat companies like Sony and Panasonic in terms of microelectronics, I can only find another way to redefine a new product."

Su Chen said, "But I believe that the record company will definitely agree with my approach. Although the format conversion is a bit troublesome, they obviously will not let go of this opportunity to make money."

"Although I feel that this is a very troublesome project, I was persuaded by you." Nicholas said, "I wonder if you can establish this project today?"

"Of course, as long as you have no objections, professor, I can allocate funds right away."

Nicholas said with a smile, "Well, it seems that our economist is still a rich man. In this case, we will set up this project today. I just have nothing to do today, so we can draft contracts and documents.

But I need to remind you that this project may consume a lot of time and money, and there is a possibility of research failure, because we don't know whether what you want can be realized under your assumption. "

"Understood." Su Chen nodded

Since both sides have no opinion.

The English name of this project is Multiple Processor, which literally means multi-processor.

There are two sub-items below, one is called MP3 and the other is called MP4.

The research time is 2 years, that is to say, within two years, Professor Nicholas must produce the initial products of these two projects.

And Su Chen's 500 million funds cannot be interrupted. Once the funds expire and are not renewed, all scientific research results will belong to the laboratory.

A lawyer is called in to confirm that there is no problem with the contract. After both parties sign it, the project will be established.

Su Chen's first payment of 100 million US dollars arrived on time, and Nicholas called him a good guy...

(End of this chapter)