Tuner IC aids "Plug and Play" digital receiver

Zarlink Semiconductor has helped Thomson to produce the industry's first single-conversion tuner module to meet stringent US performance specifications for "Plug and Play" digital televisions.

Zarlink Semiconductor has helped Thomson to produce the industry's first single-conversion tuner module to meet stringent US performance specifications for "Plug and Play" digital televisions.

"Plug and Play" rules released by the FCC define how manufacturers must design digital televisions to allow consumers to simply plug-in equipment to receive digital cable or free over-the-air digital broadcast television service without requiring a set-top box.

With Thomson and Zarlink's new tuner technology, manufacturers can easily meet "Plug and Play" television receiver specifications for digital cable and over-the-air digital programming.

Thomson's DPF88XX tuner module, which combines Thomson's system expertise with Zarlink's SL2610 single-conversion tuner IC, is less expensive and delivers higher performance than modules based on dual-conversion architectures.

Thomson used Zarlink's tuner technology to meet all ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) terrestrial and SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers) cable specifications for true "Plug and Play" compliance.

"Thomson's advanced tuner module design, combined with Zarlink's SL2610 tuner IC, overcome a significant design issue that had hindered manufacturers' ability to cost-effectively develop standards-compliant TV receivers for a fast-growing market", said Fabrice Corbin, Marketing Manager, Tuners and RF Solutions, Thomson.

"Our cutting-edge tuner module is extremely compact in size, and meets rigorous performance demands for new digital and high-definition TV reception while supporting more complex features and higher levels of integration".

Zarlink's SL2610 tuner IC is the world's only commercially available device that integrates image rejection in a traditional single-conversion three-band MOPLL (mixer oscillator phase locked loop) device, helping manufactures lower BOM (bill of material) costs while delivering "Plug and Play" compliant performance.

"Designers were previously forced to use a more expensive dual-conversion architecture to develop hybrid cable and terrestrial tuners for "Plug and Play" televisions", said Robert Hanrahan, ATSC Marketing Manager, Zarlink Semiconductor.

"The SL2610 device supports a simplified architecture for digital televisions, significantly trimming tuner costs compared with a dual-conversion design".

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