Intel Delivers First Dual Channel Enhanced Demodulators for Consumer Electronics Devices
Share:
TVonics Adopts New Demodulators to Deliver Advanced TV Capabilities
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 29, 2007 - Intel Corporation today unveiled its first Digital TV dual channel demodulators for the consumer electronics (CE) market segment that is housed on a single piece of silicon. The demodulator extracts the digital channel from the target broadcast signal to deliver high-quality broadcast TV reception.
The new Intel® CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator and Intel® CE 6251 Dual Channel Diversity-Enabled COFDM Demodulator expands Intel's CE offerings by allowing manufacturers, such as UK CE manufacturer TVonics, to deliver highly integrated advanced digital home entertainment capabilities for a variety of future consumer entertainment devices, such as personal video recorder set top boxes (PVR STBs), integrated digital televisions (iDTV) and TV-enabled personal computers (PC-TV).
As CE manufacturers look to accelerate time to market delivery of their products in sleeker and more cost effective designs, the new dual channel demodulators deliver lower power consumption, smaller package size and improved value without compromising the high performance required in next-generation DTV devices that receive Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial (DVB-T) over-the-air broadcast transmissions. Shipping in excess of 11 million DVB-T demodulator chips in 2006, Intel is building on the performance and power advantages established by its single channel devices. Intel's products also adhere to a variety of standards with performance headroom as CE providers deliver new services in the years ahead.
For example, to meet the needs of the DTV platforms in the European region, the Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator and Intel CE 6251 Dual Channel Diversity-Enabled COFDM Demodulator are fully NorDig Unified 1.0.2 standard compliant.
"We work closely with a variety of CE industry companies to best meet the high performance and low power consumption needs these manufacturers require worldwide," said William O. Leszinske, Jr., general manager of Intel's Consumer Electronics Group. "Intel's new dual channel demodulators are specifically designed to give PVR set top boxes, iDTVs and PC-TVs the ability to offer greater flexibility, an improved viewing experience and advanced capabilities in the home."
TVonics, a leading UK designer and manufacturer of branded and OEM digital TV receivers and recorders, will integrate the new Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator into its next generation of digital TV recorder products planned for release in the fourth quarter of this year.
"It is essential that we are able to offer Twin Channel Digital TV Recorders that provide excellent reception performance, matched with lower system cost and smaller form factors. The Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator meets our needs precisely by offering NorDig Unified 1.0.2 standards reception compliance and greater levels of system integration," said Paul Fellows, CEO and founder/owner of TVonics UK Ltd. "In a society which is increasingly environmentally conscious, TVonics strives to select energy-efficient solutions. The Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator enables TVonics to deliver class-leading energy efficiency in both operational and standby modes."
Dual Channel Demodulators Bring Higher Integration to CE Devices
Intel's new single chip dual channel demodulators offer CE manufacturers the benefits of higher system level integration in CE devices. By operating as two individual channels in a PVR, the Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator is specifically designed to give consumers the flexibility to watch one program while recording another, including a real-time broadcast picture-in-picture feature in iDTVs instead of a broadcast recording. For PC-TV cards, PCI Express and Mini-TV cards, it allows consumers to watch and record, download and edit television programs.
The Intel CE 6251 Dual Channel Diversity-Enabled COFDM Demodulator's advanced diversity signal sensitivity improvements delivers the flexibility to detach a portable DTV with two portable aerials from its traditional TV aerial lead and reposition it at any location in the home, improving the customizability of the DTV experience without jeopardizing broadcast quality. The new dual channel demodulator also extends the signal reception range for a PC-TV application that requires small, portable aerials - truly "digital TV anywhere."
New Power Savings at Home
The Intel CE 6250 Dual Channel COFDM Demodulator and Intel CE 6251 Dual Channel Diversity-Enabled COFDM Demodulator offer the industry's lowest power consumption, using less than 280 mW (milliwatts) for a typical application. The power down and hardware "sleep" mode significantly reduces the chip's power consumption and allows CE manufacturers to meet international power-saving directives for CE devices in the European Union, and the strict handheld and PC-TV equipment power requirements for battery operated devices.
Availability Today
Intel's new dual channel single chip demodulators are currently shipping. These devices are designed in 0.13 CMOS (complementary metal oxide silicon) technology and available in compact 80-pin LQFP (low-profile quad flat pack) measuring just 10 x 10 mm. Intel supports the products with a comprehensive evaluation system that includes a TNIM reference design, evaluation software and PC interface. Source code software device drivers are also available.
Intel works with module, set top box, DTV and PC manufacturers to offer designers a broad range of front-end applications. For more on the company's DTV technology, visit http://www.intel.com/design/celect/dtcomponents.htm.
About Intel
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom.
