Implementation of HDTV PES combiner based on horizontal six-block segmentation

We present the hardware design of the packetized elementary stream (PES) combiner in the third generation HDTV encoder in China, which is a key part in the HDTV encoding system. In our design, the input HDTV video signal is divided into six sub-images, and a horizontal six-block segmentation method is implemented in the HDTV encoder. Each of the sub-images is coded by one MP@ML encoding ASIC, which works at a different bitrate. The PES combiner combines all the output bit streams into one HDTV PES. The coding parameters and timing stamps are modified according to the requirements of MPEG-2 MP@HL. All these PES combiner functions are implemented by one complex programmable logic device (CPLD), which makes the whole encoding system compact and stable. The detailed discussions of hardware design are also presented in this paper. Experimental results show that the quality of decoded image is improved over the past two generation encoders, and constant bitrate can be maintained at the same time.