Nick
12-28-05, 02:33 AM
Electronics Weekly
Integrating several functions into a single chip for the first time, Silicon Laboratories has created a device that enables inexpensive and easy incorporation of a satellite television RF front end into a variety of devices.
The most obvious is, of course, a set-top box. The Austin, Texas company said the new chip is the first in a new family of products called SiRX. Each chip is a fully-integrated single-chip satellite RF front end for direct broadcast satellite.
"Generally we offer a 50 per cent reduction in the number of components," said Mark Thompson, director of marketing. That means device makers can save up to $1 on the bill of materials just by reducing the component count, he said, depending on volume.
According to Silicon Labs its flagship SiRX chip is the highest performance, smallest sized and easiest to use receiver for DBS, and can be used for all free-to-air and pay-television DBS equipment including set top boxes, PC cards for satellite TV, DBS receivers for use in cars or avionics, DVD recorders and digital televisions with integrated satellite receivers.
The device integrates the functions of what normally are three separate chips: an L-band RF tuner, a dual mode DVB-S/DSS digital demodulator and a power-efficient, step-up supply controller for the low-noise block converter...
More... (http://www.electronicsweekly.co.uk/Articles/2005/12/07/37139/SiliconLabscreatessinglechipsatellitereceiver.htm)
Integrating several functions into a single chip for the first time, Silicon Laboratories has created a device that enables inexpensive and easy incorporation of a satellite television RF front end into a variety of devices.
The most obvious is, of course, a set-top box. The Austin, Texas company said the new chip is the first in a new family of products called SiRX. Each chip is a fully-integrated single-chip satellite RF front end for direct broadcast satellite.
"Generally we offer a 50 per cent reduction in the number of components," said Mark Thompson, director of marketing. That means device makers can save up to $1 on the bill of materials just by reducing the component count, he said, depending on volume.
According to Silicon Labs its flagship SiRX chip is the highest performance, smallest sized and easiest to use receiver for DBS, and can be used for all free-to-air and pay-television DBS equipment including set top boxes, PC cards for satellite TV, DBS receivers for use in cars or avionics, DVD recorders and digital televisions with integrated satellite receivers.
The device integrates the functions of what normally are three separate chips: an L-band RF tuner, a dual mode DVB-S/DSS digital demodulator and a power-efficient, step-up supply controller for the low-noise block converter...
More... (http://www.electronicsweekly.co.uk/Articles/2005/12/07/37139/SiliconLabscreatessinglechipsatellitereceiver.htm)