Demodulator Chip Processes European Digital TV Signals

A COFDM (Coded Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) IC, the STV0361 is a demodulator system-on-a-chip (SOC) that performs the front-end processing of terrestrial TV transmissions throughout Europe. It complies fully with European standards including the European Broadcasting Union Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (EBU DVD-T) specification and the NorDig 1.0.1 standard. The device is designed for digital and hybrid TV sets, terrestrial set-top boxes and digital video recorders. An echo protection capability, which required control from the set-top box in an earlier version of the device, is completely contained in the new version. The device can manage signals containing echoes by synchronizing up to 260 µs outside the guard interval. Doppler shifted signals, received from a moving object can be detected and processed according to NorDig requirements. The device is supplied in a TQFP64 x64 package. Price is $4.50 each/100,000. ST MICROELECTRONICS, Lexington, MA. (781) 861-2650.