Lucent Technologies has started shipping prototype versions of a chip designed to serve as a signal receiver in digital television sets, computers and cable boxes, among other possible digital applications.

The chip is part of a five-chip package for digital televisions that Lucent's Microelectronics Group is developing with Mitsubishi Electric Corp of Japan.

Together, all the chips are to serve as the core of the new digital, high-definition television sets that are scheduled to go on sale next summer. The full chip set would be available to manufacturers early next year, Lucent said.