Product category:
Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor | Subject: ZL10312
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 06 August 2003
Demodulator is speedy scanner for
satellite boxes
Zarlink Semiconductor has added the industry's fastest-scanning, lowest-power channel demodulator to its successful family of RF chips for digital satellite TV systems.
Zarlink Semiconductor has added the industry's fastest-scanning, lowest-power channel demodulator to its successful family of RF chips for digital satellite TV systems Zarlink's ZL10312 chip is aimed primarily at set-top boxes (STBs) sold in Asia and the Middle East that receive "free-to-air" digital TV channels on satellite broadcast bands
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The demodulator is also suitable for the European and US satellite STB markets.
The ZL10312 device, combined with Zarlink's SL1925/1935 tuner chips, offers manufacturers a complete RF subsystem for tuning, scanning, decoding, and demodulating digital satellite TV signals.
Approximately 70% of the digital satellite STBs manufactured in China use Zarlink tuners, according to company research.
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To provide consumers with STBs that are easier to use, manufacturers want demodulators that quickly scan and lock onto digital satellite TV channels with little or no user input.
The ZL10312 demodulator automatically scans the complete satellite broadcast band in minutes - the industry's fastest auto-scan performance.
In comparison, competing demodulator chips can take hours to perform the function, and require consumers to input such variables as frequency, code rate, and symbol rate.
"Market acceptance has been excellent for auto-scan STBs based on Zarlink's first-generation MT312 satellite demodulator.
The new ZL10312 chip provides even better performance at lower power", said Huang ZhenFen, General Technical Supervisor at FuZhou ZhuoYi Electronics, a leading manufacturer of satellite TV equipment.
"Fast auto scan is a very popular feature with consumers, and our new demodulator delivers the best performance in the industry", said Jim Wallace, Marketing Manager, Satellite, Cable, and Terrestrial Products, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"Coupled with our market-proven tuners, we're making it simpler for manufacturers to build complete RF front ends for digital satellite receivers".
Zarlink's new satellite demodulator is the lowest-power chip in its class, with consumption of only 300mW.
As STBs shrink in size, heat-sensitive RF tuner and demodulator chips are being packed into smaller areas.
The ZL10312 demodulator minimizes heat generation, improving RF performance and field reliability.
The ZL10312 supports QPSK and BPSK modulation schemes.
The device uses advanced digital filters to detect and decode symbol rates from 1 to 45M symbols per second, allowing it to process a flexible range of satellite channels without external components.
A unique, on-chip hard-wired controller helps the ZL10312 device achieve its ultrafast channel scanning capability.
The controller saves time by implementing scan routines at high speeds with little intervention from an external processor.
This allows manufacturers to minimise software overhead and reach markets more quickly.
The ZL10312 chip features a direct interface to version 2.2 of Eutelsat's DiSEqC (digital satellite equipment control) bus.
This interface reduces the need for external components to control satellite dishes and low-noise blocks.
The ZL10312 demodulator features a "sleep" pin that dramatically lowers power consumption in stand-by mode.
The pin reduces the chip's power requirement 1000-fold when a STB is not in use, thus assisting manufacturers in meeting US Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star requirements.
The ZL10312 also complies fully with European DVB-S specifications and the US DSS standard.
Zarlink's ZL10312 satellite channel demodulator chip is now in production.
The chip is packaged in a 64-pin LQFP and measures only 7 x 7mm.
In 1000-off volumes, the ZL10312 is priced at US$3.85.
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