Silicon Labs tips TV tuner for China
EE Times staff -- EDN, August 23, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO—Analog and mixed-signal IC maker Silicon Laboratories Inc Monday (Aug. 22) introduced a new silicon TV tuner chip designed to offer the optimal balance of performance and affordability for TV makers in China and Taiwan.
Cost-optimized solutions such as Silicon Labs' Si2155 TV tuner IC will TV makers in China-who have been rapidly increasing flat-panel TV production over the last three years-deliver quality TV models at competitive price points, according to Silicon Labs (Austin, Texas).
According to market research firm DisplaySearch LLC, China is expected to become the world's largest market for LCD TVs this year. DisplaySearch also predicts that flat-panel TV shipments in China will nearly double from the 31 million units reported in 2009 to 59 million units in 2014.
According to Silicon Labs, the Si2155 TV tuner IC simplifies TV tuner design and qualification across all major worldwide analog and digital broadcast standards. It also combines with mainstream TV SOCs, which integrate standard analog demodulators suitable for economy TVs, Silicon Labs said.
The Si2155 is available in a compact 5x5 mm QFN package and integrates the complete signal path from RF input to IF outputs, according to Silicon Labs. Compared to traditional discrete MOPLL-based tuner solutions, designs based on the Si2155 eliminate more than 100 external components including low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), tracking filter inductors (unlike other silicon tuners) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, according to the firm. The Si2155 also enables cost-effective "on-board" tuner implementations using lower-cost external components, Silicon Labs said.
Samples and production quantities of the Si2155 TV tuner are available now, priced at $1.23 per unit in 10,000-unit quantities, Silicon Labs said. The Si2176-B-EVB and the Si2156-B-EVB, both priced at $495, provide comprehensive evaluation platforms for Silicon Labs' next-generation Si2176/46/36 and Si2155/56 TV tuners, respectively, the company said.
This story was originally posted by EE Times.
