Zarlink RF tuner replaces double-conversion tuners

The SL2610 RF silicon tuner IC from Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. is claimed to be the first tuner chip that allows compact, single-conversion tuner designs to achieve the same level of performance as double-conversion tuners, and is eyed towards integration into both analog and digital terrestrial STBs.

The 6mm2 MLPFP device convert analog and digital terrestrial TV signals into pictures using a single frequency conversion step and features an on-chip image channel reject to eliminate unwanted "image channels." The circuit delivers >30dB of image suppression.

The SL2610 also delivers high-performance intermodulation intercept, enabling the device to efficiently tune to the desired channel in the presence of higher amplitude interferers or wide-bandwidth composite input signals.

The tuner is essentially a triple-band, low-noise RF mixer oscillator (MO) that operates in the 50MHz to 900MHz frequency range. Each MO band consists of a low-noise preamplifier/mixer and local oscillator, supported by an external, varactor-tuned tank. The MO outputs share a low-impedance surface acoustic wave filter driver stage.

It also integrates an I2C bus-controlled PLL synthesizer designed for low phase-noise performance and compatible with all common frequency offset requirements. At 10kHz, the free running phase noise of the SL2610 is typically <-90dBc/Hz

The device can also be programmed to generate all output Ifs commonly used in analog and digital receiver systems.

In high volumes, the SL2610 is priced at $1.94.