Toshiba Announces Complete RF Solution for Digital TV Tuners

[Gregg Lengling]

From PRNEWSWIRE

Extensive Line of Consumer Electronics Components Facilitates Rapid
    Compliance With New FCC Ruling Requiring Digital TV Tuners in New TVs

    IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the FCC's recent
mandate requiring digital TV tuners in new television sets within two to five
years, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)* today announced
that the company offers a complete set of radio frequency (RF) integrated
discrete devices required for a digital television (DTV) tuner to help enable
TV manufacturers to comply with this new ruling.  Developed by Toshiba Corp.
(Toshiba), these devices include varactors, FETs, dual gate MOSFETS, pin
diodes and Schottky Barrier diodes.
    Under the new FCC regulation, all but the smallest new televisions sold in
the United States must be able to receive digital broadcast signals by 2007.
By 2004, digital tuners must be included in half of the sets with 35-inch
screens or larger, with other sizes phasing in throughout the five-year
transition period.  In addition, all TV receiving equipment, such as VCRs and
DVD player/recorders must be capable of receiving DTV after July 1, 2007.
    "To help TV manufacturers meet this requirement, Toshiba provides a
one-stop solution for RF devices," said Tom Chand, business development
engineer for TAEC's RF devices.  "As a leading supplier of RF discrete devices
for consumer electronics (CE) devices, with approximately 40 percent of the
market for analog CE devices and 15 percent of the market for digital CE
devices, we're prepared to support the industry's transition to digital TV."
    "Despite relatively flat TV unit sales, HD integrated sets and monitors
are continuing to experience strong growth this year, as shipments are
expected to increase about 80 percent over last year," says Danielle Levitas,
director of Consumer Devices and Interactive Services research at IDC.  "Large
screen televisions dominate HDTV sales and the FCC order requiring digital
tuner integration into these larger TVs, beginning in mid-2004, will help push
the DTV transition forward."
    Toshiba's RF solution for DTV tuners includes the discrete devices
required for the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) Gain Control and Mixer functions in
the tuner, (See Figure 1. Digital TV Tuner Block Diagram available at
tv.tuner.toshiba.com ).  These devices are optimized for high gain and
frequency response with low noise figures for best performance in a DTV
application.  An Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) digital tuner
must be capable of tuning the entire VHF (30MHz to 300MHz) and UHF (300MHz to
3GHz) broadcast bands as well as all standard cable bands, and Internet Relay
Chat (IRC) and HRC bands.
    The low noise amplifier is a wideband RF amplifier, that together with the
gain control block must increase the signal level into the first mixer while
minimizing the receiver noise figure (NF).  In most cases the signal strength
is very low compared to the carrier noise as the signal is received from the
antenna.  The LNA is responsible for amplifying the signal, while keeping the
carrier noise level low.  During the next stage, the signal is sent to the
Gain Control block.  In a typical design, the Gain Control block is comprised
of a two stage mixer with a phase lock loop circuit and a +44MHz amplifier,
which locks onto the desired channel and outputs a 44MHz signal from the
tuner.  The PLL circuit ensures the desired station stays locked.  Without it,
the station would drift in and out of reception because of the shift in
frequency.  After the Gain Control block, the desired signal is sent to the
final stage Mixer, which incorporates the desired signal and an IF signal,
generated from an Oscillator.  This "mixed" signal is then out of the Tuner
block.  For product details, please refer to the technical specifications
table below.

    About Digital Television
    The FCC's mandate is intended to spur the transition to DTV, which is
expected to be complete in 2007.  Today, television stations in many areas
broadcast both conventional analog television signals and digital signals,
using additional spectrum for the digital signals on loan from the FCC.
More than 200 stations are already broadcasting digital television signals,
reaching an estimated 70 percent of U.S. homes.  Under the FCC guidelines,
once 85 percent of a broadcaster's viewing area is capable of receiving a
digital signal, the broadcaster must give back its analog spectrum, which the
government plans to auction for other uses, such as wireless applications.
Consumers with older TVs will be able to buy set-top boxes if they want to
receive broadcasts from digital stations over analog TVs.
    Digital TV based on the ATSC digital standard adopted by the FCC will
provide improved picture quality with vivid pictures and crisp sound, free
from interference, snow and ghosts that can occur with broadcast analog TV
signals.  In addition to improved pictures, DTV offers a range of new
possibilities to broadcasters, such as sending multiple programs over one
channel or offering video games, the Internet or interactive services.
The digital television signal is enhanced with CD-quality theater-like audio
in the 5.1 channel digital Dolby format with separate left and right front
channels, left and right rear channels and subwoofer channels.

    Technical Specifications: Toshiba RF ICs for Digital TV Tuners

    Functional
     Block of  Application  Band   Description   Part Number   Package  Price
      Tuner                                                            Q:3000K
     Low Noise  Boost     UHF and    Signal       2SC3607      PW-      $0.49
        Amp    incoming     VHF     Amplifier                 MINI
               signal
      Gain     Tuning    Wide-band   Automatic    1SV271       USC      $0.19
     Control   varicap       VHF   Gain Control -
      Block     diode               Single Pin
                                     Diode
               RF Amp        UHF     9V Dual      3SK232       SMQ      $0.55
                                     Gate
                                     MOSFET
               RF Amp        UHF     9V Dual      3SK291       SMQ      $0.27
                                     Gate
                                     MOSFET
               RF Amp        UHF     9V Dual      3SK293       USQ      $0.29
                                     Gate
                                     MOSFET
     Mixer     Mixer         N/A     Shottky      3SK260       USQ      $0.13
                                     Diode
               Mixer         N/A     Shottky      1SS315       USC      $0.23
                                     Diode

    Pricing and Availability
    Samples of the devices are available now, with production quantities
available in the 4th quarter of 2002.

    *About TAEC
    Combining quality and flexibility with design engineering expertise, TAEC
brings a breadth of advanced, next-generation technologies to its customers.
This broad offering includes semiconductors, flash memory-based storage
solutions, optical communication devices, displays and rechargeable batteries
for the computing, wireless, networking, automotive and digital consumer
markets.
    TAEC is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a
subsidiary of Toshiba, the second largest semiconductor company worldwide in
terms of global sales for the year 2001 according to Gartner/Dataquest's
Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share Ranking.  Toshiba is a world leader in
high-technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates
worldwide.  For additional company and product information, please visit
TAEC's website at chips.toshiba.com .  For technical inquiries, please e-mail
Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com .

    All trademarks and tradenames used herein are property of their respective
owners.

    Editors Note: Reader inquiries please publish:
                  Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com .

    For further information, please contact Lisa Nemec of Toshiba America
Electronic Components, Inc., +1-949-455-2293, lisa.nemec@taec.toshiba.com .