Ront-end designs use MaxLinear's MxL603 tuner and Panasonic Semiconductor’s MN88472 demodulator IC
Carlsbad, Calif. – August 27, 2012 –- MaxLinear, Inc.(NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced it is collaborating with Panasonic Corporation's Semiconductor Business Group for DVB-T2 set-top boxes (STB).
The design collaboration has resulted in DVB-T2 front-end network interface module (NIM) reference designs that include MaxLinear’s latest-generation MxL603 silicon tuner and Panasonic Semiconductor's latest-generation MN88472 DVB-T2 demodulator LSI. One of the designs is a single-channel NIM that is cost optimized for single tuner "zapper" set-top boxes (STBs). The other design is a dual-channel NIM with low-cost splitter for dual-tuner personal video recorder (PVR) STBs.
Both designs feature industry leading low power consumption of less than 720mW per channel in DVB-T2 modes. The turnkey reference designs enable manufacturers to adopt a proven, pre-qualified DVB-T2 set-top box solution with minimal engineering investment and reduced time to market.
The reference designs were developed and tested to comply with the latest DVB-T2 specifications, including Nordig 2.2, DTG D-Book version 7.0, and SANS 862:2012 (South Africa). A third-party independent lab certification test report will be available for the single-channel design to demonstrate compliance with both DTG D-Book and Nordig 2.2 standards.
Digital TV broadcast services based on the DVB-T2 standard are currently being deployed or tested in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
"DVB-T2 market growth is accelerating and that puts a premium on time-to-market for STB manufacturers. This design collaboration provides our customers with a proven solution from two industry leaders," said Brian Sprague, Vice President and General Manager, Broadband and Consumer Products. "Panasonic Semiconductor's emphasis on low power consumption is a perfect match for our CMOS-based tuners that are the lowest-power solutions in the industry. In addition, both the MaxLinear and Panasonic Semiconductor devices have very high levels of integration that enable a fully featured system in a very small board footprint."
The reference designs were developed and tested to comply with the latest DVB-T2 specifications, including Nordig 2.2, DTG D-Book version 7.0, and SANS 862:2012 (South Africa). A third-party independent lab certification test report will be available for the single-channel design to demonstrate compliance with both DTG D-Book and Nordig 2.2 standards.
Technical Highlights
The single and dual-channel reference designs are optimized for cost and performance in a small form-factor NIM. The designs utilize crystal sharing between the tuner and demodulator and include an integrated loop-through output to minimize the bill-of-materials (BOM) cost. A complete set of design materials, including schematics, layout gerbers, BOM list and graphical user interface (GUI) evaluation software with integrated tuner and demodulator drivers is now available.
Technical Highlights: Panasonic Semiconductor’s MN88472 LSI
Panasonic semiconductor’s MN88472 DVB-T/C/T2 demodulator IC is a second-generation, low power device optimized to meet the exacting performance requirements of the DVB-T2 specification. The MN88472 includes an advanced LDPC algorithm with reliability information, P1 detection and ISI cancellation. Sensitivity performance in 256 QAM modes is exceptional and enables robust reception in areas with extremely low signal power.
Technical Highlights: MaxLinear MxL603
The MxL603 CMOS silicon tuner features an integrated LNA, on-chip loop-through and exceptional sensitivity performance that enables robust reception of weak signals, even in the presence of multiple strong interferers such as LTE/4G, WiFi, or adjacent analog and digital channels.
The MxL603 delivers an unprecedented noise figure of 3.8 dB and includes MaxLinear’s leading-edge blocker immunity technology for advanced filtering of strong signals from adjacent channels. The combination of superior sensitivity and linearity performance provides assurance to set-top box manufacturers that current products will meet future tuner specifications as they evolve.
The MxL603 is available in a tiny 4 mm x 4 mm 24-pin QFN package and consumes approximately 400 milliwatts (mW) in digital terrestrial mode. The low power consumption and small footprint enables low-cost, two-layer PCB implementations and ultra-small form factor tuner modules without the need for an expensive heat sink or fan.
About MaxLinear, Inc.
MaxLinear, Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is www.maxlinear.com.
Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, including statements relating to MaxLinear’s MxL603 silicon tuner and the anticipated market growth in the DVB-T2 market. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. MaxLinear’s expectations about the about the capabilities of the MxL603 silicon tuner and the benefits of its reference design may not be realized, and MaxLinear’s collaboration with Panasonic Semiconductor may not result in increased revenues. MaxLinear’s business, revenues, and operating results are and will continue to be subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including (among others) uncertainties concerning how end user markets for its products will develop; its dependence on a limited number of customers for a substantial portion of its revenues; its ability to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; and potential increases in average selling prices for its products. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2012 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 filed with the SEC on August 3, 2012. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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