HD cable packs tuner, HDMI function

Broadcom Corp. debuts its next-generation digital terminal adapter (DTA) cable STB SoC solution that combines HD video, an integrated 1GHz cable tuner and HDMI capabilities in an ultrasmall form factor. The Broadcom BCM7572 HD DTA solution enables North American cable operators to transition subscribers from analog programming directly to HD programming.

Over the past decade, the North American cable industry has focused much of its attention, and investment dollars, on value-added services in addition to basic cable TV services, including HD video services, according to In-Stat market research.

Broadcom's BCM7572 solution paves the way for the expanded network capacity that operators require in order to provide additional HD content and more value-added services such as HD video-on-demand (VoD) and higher speed DOCSIS 3.0 data and voice services. It reduces BOM cost while adding advanced functionality. The device integrates an SCTE-40+ 1GHz silicon cable tuner that exceeds the SCTE-40 specification and performance requirements demanded by North American cable operators; a QAM demodulator; a highly efficient MIPS32-class CPU; a data transport processor; a programmable audio core; four video and two audio DACs; and peripheral interfaces for a variety of STB control/receiver functions.

It offers an integrated HDMI transmitter and HD MPEG2/AVC decoder to drive high quality HD displays from an ultra small form factor, and for security, it supports a wide range of card and cardless security devices. Reduced memory footprint is achieved with a x16 DDR2 memory controller and serial flash that enable the minimum footprint for an HD DTA. It achieves low power consumption with an integrated standby power management controller that enables ultralow power modes and allows for Dan Marotta, senior VP and general manager, broadband communications group, Broadcom notes that "Leveraging our proven track record in supplying DTA solutions for the digital transition, Broadcom's next generation DTA chipset adds HD, HDMI and an integrated tuner, enabling cable operators to cost effectively reclaim precious bandwidth while deploying more HD content and additional value-added services. It also accelerates the time-to-market in deploying HD DTA adapters throughout North America."

Broadcom's BCM7572 is now sampling to cable STB manufacturers.