Product category:
Wireless Communications
News Release from: RadioScape | Subject: RS350A
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 10 March 2005
DAB module gives Sony easy entry to
after market
Sony Corp has chosen RadioScape's RS350A DAB module design as the basis for its upcoming automotive DAB radios.
Sony Corp has chosen RadioScape's RS350A DAB module design as the basis for its upcoming automotive DAB radios The RS350A module is designed for the challenging environment of automotive applications and provides DAB functionality for existing radio designs
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"We are delighted that one of the world's leading consumer electronics companies has selected RadioScape's module for its entry into the DAB automotive market", said Dave Hawkins, RadioScape's Vice President for Receivers.
"Our unique, software defined digital radio solution provides the flexibility for customers to customise the module to create products that meet their specific requirements".
"This is not only cost effective but also ensures our solutions are continually at the forefront of innovation and technological leadership".
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"The entry of Sony into the automotive DAB market is a positive endorsement of the excellent growth potential in this market segment", added Anika Nyberg, President of WorldDAB.
"It takes several years for new products such as DAB to be designed into cars as standard".
"The opportunity that Sony and others are addressing is the after-market demand to have DAB radios fitted to their cars".
"The explosive growth of DAB receivers in the UK, and increasingly in other countries in the world, has mainly been in the home and now people, hooked on the exciting unique content only available on DAB, want to be able to continue their listening experience during the drive to work".
"We believe that automotive is one of the next important growth sectors for DAB and are delighted that RadioScape is committed to empowering it".
The module has several features specifically for automotive use.
It can process up to three DAB channels on a multiplex simultaneously to provide any combination of audio channels and data channels of news or travel information.
Service linking enables the radio to automatically move to associated stations when the first goes out of range using linking information provided by the broadcaster.
Lastly, the module provides "phantom" power up the antenna cable to power an amplifier at the base of the antenna.
This is the preferred design for many cars as it removes the necessity of having expensive coaxial cable to screen the signal cable, instead it boosts the signal from the antenna immediately for its journey to the receiver so that it stands out from any background interference.
The RS350A is powered from an externally regulated DC supply of 5 and 3.3V.
Control is provided via a serial interface - for example I2C.
It measures 62 x 37 x 10mm to allow vertical fitment in a standard automotive receiver DIN enclosure and is fully screened to meet all electromagnetic requirements for automotive type approval.
It can receive DAB Band III and L-band enabling it to be used world-wide wherever there are Eureka 147 DAB transmissions.
This fully integrated module requires only the minimum of external components.
The module is available from RadioScape at around $40 depending on volume and optional features.
RadioScape has recently appointed Triangle Technologies as its representative in Japan, who assisted with this design win.
It provides local support to the Japanese consumer electronics companies, who are now entering the DAB market in a big way.
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