Carlsbad, Calif. - Sept. 10, 2009 - MaxLinear Inc., a fabless semiconductor company at the forefront of developing all-CMOS broadband radio-frequency (RF) & mixed-signal IC solutions for consumer markets, today announced availability of its MxL1x1SF family, the industry's highest performance tuner and demodulator system on chip (SoC) for DVB-T applications and hybrid multi-mode applications combining DVBT & other analog/digital terrestrial TV & cable TV standards including ATSC, ISDBT13, DTMB, NTSC, PAL, SECAM, DVB-C, & DOCSIS.
The product family provides complete frequency coverage from 44 to 1GHz and delivers exceptional performance. MxL1x1SF devices consume ~450 mW of power, making them an ideal choice for a wide array of applications including television sets, PCTV, IPTV and terrestrial set-top boxes (STBs).
The two products currently available are MxL101SF and MxL111SF. Both parts are available in a 7mm x 7mm QFN 48 package and represent a reduction in size of over 50% compared to competitive offerings in most applications. These highly integrated devices reduce the external BOM to minimal standard value components, the cost of which is estimated to be less than $0.20 in high volumes.
In addition to integrating all functionality required to receive and demodulate DVB-T signals, MxL1x1SF parts also provide access to the IF output signal of the tuner, enabling hybrid implementations by connecting a discrete analog or digital demodulator to the tuner IF output interface. This configuration leverages the built-in tuner to enable DVB-T/DVB-C or DVB-T/analog applications at a very low cost and in a very small footprint. The IF output frequency of MxL1x1SF devices is software configurable, which provides a seamless interface to all commonly available demodulators on the market today.
The MxL101SF SoC integrates MaxLinear's market proven MxL5007T and MxL201RF tuner cores combined with the company's third-generation "home grown" NORDIG/DTG compliant DVB-T demodulator technology. A fully integrated loop-through function is also integrated on MxL101SF.
The MxL111SF device not only has the full functionality of MxL101SF, but it also provides integrated USB 2.0 connectivity and allows a second external demodulator or analog video decoder to share its USB interface. The MxL111SF provides input and output options for serial and parallel transport streams and supports configurable BT656 and I2S inputs to interface with external analog video decoders. The ability to input transport streams as well as BT656 and I2S signals through the USB2.0 interface while simultaneously demodulating a DVB-T signal makes the MxL111SF uniquely suitable for multi-channel applications and multi-standard designs. An integrated IDAC provides flexibility to drive external LEDs or other discrete devices.
"By combining our market leading RF tuner technology with our high performance home-grown 3rd generation DVB-T OFDM demodulator platform, MaxLinear is setting a new standard in performance, power, integration and cost," said Kishore Seendripu, Chief Executive Officer of MaxLinear. "These parts will enable a whole host of new innovative products while reducing system complexity and improving performance."
MxL1x1SF parts utilize MaxLinear's unique API-based software architecture, reducing the programming of the device to a few simple commands and eliminating the need for complicated register calls. Additionally, MxL1x1SF parts require no firmware download or complicated spur avoidance algorithms commonly required by other solutions. This software simplicity enables quick and easy implementation of the driver source code on any software platform.
Both SoCs have been extensively field tested and proven in more than 12 individual field trials under difficult real-world signal conditions.
Both parts are monolithic ICs, enabling superior reliability and manufacturability compared to discrete and SiP (silicon in package) implementations. The cost advantages of MaxLinear's standard digital CMOS enable MxL1x1SF devices to be the most competitive solutions in any digital TV application.
Availability
Mass production samples are available now. MaxLinear will demonstrate the MxL1x1SF family during IBC (Amsterdam, Sept. 10-14) and production quantities will be available in Q4 2009.
