China has developed a chip that will convert analog signals beamed by television stations into those compatible with high definition TV (HDTV) sets.

The chip, known as a "video frequency format converter", was developed by the Shanghai High Definition and Digital Technology Innovation Center.

Experts described the chip as a major technological breakthrough by Chinese researchers.

HDTV sets are available on the Chinese market, but the signals beamed by the country's television stations remain analog, leaving the image on HDTV sets less good than it should be.

The newly developed chip will help HDTV sets, video CD players and digital video disk (DVD) players convert analog signals into high definition ones, producing clearer images for TV viewers at home.

A research center spokesperson said the chip was good enough to substitute for imported ones.

The center is now working with the Chip and Systems Research Center under the auspices of Shanghai Jiaotong University to commercialize the technological success.

(People's Daily May 22, 2002)