Global TV tuner chip surpasses 'can' tuners

The MxL5007 from MaxLinear is a TV tuner IC that handles virtually all global standards in a single CMOS device, with performance that the vendor claims exceeds conventional so-called "can" (hybrid) devices, but at a lower price and power cost.

Configured via an I?C interface, the IC takes a 75Ω antenna signal as its input, and produces an IF output up to 44MHz. The design does not require an external low noise amplifer (LNA), tracking filter, SAW filter, loop filter or calibration of adjustments.

The 1.8-3.3V IC handles 44-1,002MHz and dissipates 300mW (typical). Among the standards supported are ATSC, DVB-T, DVB-T(H), DVB-H, ISDB, DVB-C, 64/256 QAM, analog cable, DOCSIS, NTSC, PAL and SECAM. Functions such as gain control, local oscillator generation, channel selectivity and RF loop-through and integrated on chip; if necessary, these functions—as well as receiving mode for the various standards—are controlled using an I?C interface.

Input return loss is 10dB for analog and digital modes, and noise figure is 4.5dB. Analog adjacent channel rejection is 60dB. For the RF loop-through, output return loss is 10dB, with gain of 0dB and a 6dB noise figure. Channel bandwidths can be programmed to be 4, 6, 7 and 8MHz, and the IC also includes automatic gain control (AGC) with 100dB range and received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

The MxL5007, housed in a 5mm x 5mm, 32-lead QFN package, is sampling now and is priced under $1.50 in OEM quantities.

- Bill Schweber
Planet Analog