MaxLinear Full-Spectrum Capture™ Receivers, Delivering Up To 1Gbps Speeds, Adopted into More Than 12 Cable Gateway and Set-top Box Designs

Download as PDF
  • MaxLinear’s Family of Front-End Receivers Reduces Complexity of Transitioning Cable Platforms to Hybrid and All IP-based Systems
  • Deployment of Certified 16- and 24-Channel DOCSIS 3.0 Designs Targeted Before End of Year

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MaxLinear Inc., (NYSE: MXL) a leading provider of integrated, radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced that its industry-leading Full-Spectrum Capture (FSCTM) digital cable front-end receivers have been adopted into more than 12 video gateway and set-top box designs at major manufacturers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

“Video gateway and set-top box markets are evolving rapidly as cable providers strive to meet burgeoning consumer demand for bandwidth and content,” said Brian Sprague, MaxLinear’s Vice President and General Manager for Broadband and Consumer Products. “MaxLinear’s growing family of FSC receivers facilitates more efficient distribution of video and IP services, faster download speeds, lower power, and lower cost designs. We are looking forward to supporting our customers’ deployments at the end of this year.”

MaxLinear’s family of FSC receivers enables cable operators to meet the ever-increasing consumer demand for rich multimedia and data through flexible deployment of downstream bandwidth while migrating to high-capacity DOCSIS 3.0 voice and IP data gateways, video gateways, and hybrid or IP-based set-top boxes.

By delivering up to 1 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of data reception capability, the FSC receivers enable cable operators to compete against telecom carriers that have recently announced 300Mbps of Internet service offerings. Each FSC device replaces several discrete single-channel cable tuners in a gateway or a set-top box with just one broadband multi-channel receiver.

Announced in March of this year, MaxLinear’s MxL265 and MxL267 FSC receivers are optimized for cable voice and data modem applications, while the MxL256 and MxL258 receivers are optimized for video gateway applications.

The MxL265 and 267 receivers can simultaneously receive any combination of 16 or 24 channels, respectively, located anywhere in the cable spectrum, to deliver up to 1Gbps downstream data speeds in data applications. The MxL256 and MxL258 FSC receivers, each of which includes integrated on-chip QAM demodulators optimized for cable video, can simultaneously receive six or eight channels, respectively, located arbitrarily in the cable spectrum.

Technical Highlights

MaxLinear’s FSC receivers, with their superior levels of integration, and extremely low power consumption, minimize PCB footprint, eliminate expensive external RF components such as LNAs and simplify design of customer platforms by eliminating the need for complex heat removal components.

In full 1-Gigahertz cable spectrum capture mode, the 16-channel MxL265 and 24-channel MxL267 receivers consume only 110 and 90 milliwatts of power per channel, respectively.

One of the key benefits of full spectrum capture reception is the ability to implement fast channel change in multi-channel video systems. The 6-channel MxL256 and 8-channel MxL258 FSC receivers also incorporate an on-chip Out-of-Band (OoB) demodulator which directly interfaces with a CableCard in video applications. Additionally, there is an on-chip SCTE55-1 and 55-2 compliant FEC decoder with transport stream output interface. Both MxL256 and MxL258 chips easily exceed the stringent performance requirements of SCTE40 for cable video applications.

MaxLinear’s FSC family of devices supports an on-chip spectrum-analyzer function, and a wake-on-WAN capability. The spectrum-analyzer function enables MSOs to remotely monitor and diagnose potential problems with customer premise equipment, thereby reducing truck roll costs.

The wake-on-WAN capability of the FSC receivers allows the host processor in a set-top-box, a gateway or a modem to remain in a dormant state until the detection of a unique wake-up packet from the cable network. This feature eliminates the need to keep customer premises equipment fully powered up during inactivity. The power control flexibility of MaxLinear's FSC devices enables compliance with the requirements of Energy Star and the European Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services and Broadband Equipment for both standby and operating modes.

The MxL265 16-channel and the MxL267 24-channel DOCSIS 3.0 devices are pin-to-pin compatible in a standard 7mm X 7mm QFN package. The 6-channel MxL256 and the 8-channel MxL258 video devices are pin-to-pin compatible in a standard 9mm x 9mm QFN package. All solutions enable gateway and set-top box manufacturers to minimize costs by utilizing the same system design and software for different market segments.

Availability

Customer samples of the MxL265 and MxL267 are available now with volume production in Q3 2012. Additionally, customer samples of the MxL256 and MxL258 are available now with volume production in Q4 2012. Contact MaxLinear for ordering information.

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear is located in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is www.maxlinear.com.

MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to MaxLinear’s Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC™) digital cable front-end receivers. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. MaxLinear’s expectations about the capabilities and adoption by OEMs may not be realized, and the market for the Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC™) digital cable front-end receivers may not develop as MaxLinear currently anticipates. MaxLinear cannot predict its future rates of revenue growth, if any, including whether to the extent to which FSC™ adoption may affect future revenue. MaxLinear’s business, revenues, and operating results are and will be subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including (among others) uncertainties concerning how end user markets for its products will develop; its dependence on a limited number of customers for a substantial portion of revenues; its ability to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; and potential decreases in average selling prices for its products. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2012 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 filed with the SEC on August 2, 2012. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
The David James Agency LLC
David Rodewald, 805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Brian Sprague
Vice President and General Manager
760-692-0711
bsprague@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear Inc.

Released August 6, 2012