MaxLinear Announces Universal Silicon Tuner for Digital Cable and Terrestrial Set-Top Boxes

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  • MaxLinear’s MxL603 exceeds the higher performance specifications of DVB-T2/C2 broadcast standards
  • MxL603 provides superior rejection of 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, MoCA and EoC interferers

LAS VEGAS--(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 the MxL603, its next-generation high-performance TV tuner for digital cable and terrestrial set-top box applications.

Based on low-power 65-nm digital CMOS process technology, the MxL603 supports all global digital cable and terrestrial television reception standards, including: DVB-T/T2, ISDB-T, ATSC, ATSC M/H, DTMB, ITU J.83 Annex A/B/C, DVB-C2, DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS. The device is software-configurable for any of these standards, allowing manufacturers to re-use designs in multiple markets.

The MxL603 is the second device in MaxLinear’s MxL600 “super radio” family of 4 mm x 4 mm tuner products following the MxL601, a global hybrid tuner announced last year. The MxL603 features an RF loop-through port, an accurate input power detector and was specifically designed to exceed the requirements of new broadcast standards such as DVB-T2/C2.

Additionally, the MxL603 provides superior rejection of out-of-band interference from 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, MoCA and EoC signals, without the need for expensive external filters associated with legacy solutions. These expensive external filters required by competing solutions to reject interference signals add both cost and complexity to a design. With the rapid, worldwide proliferation of 4G/LTE and Wi-Fi enabled devices, the risk of interference problems and field failures are significant concerns for set-top box manufacturers that can be mitigated with the MxL603.

“The MxL603 has a smaller board footprint and lower power consumption than any other tuner in the market, features that are essential for today’s smaller and thinner set-top boxes,” said Brian Sprague, MaxLinear Vice President and General Manager. “When you also factor in the advances in sensitivity and phase noise performance - all built on top of our low-cost digital CMOS technology - this chip should be considered for every new STB design.”

Technical Highlights

The MxL603 delivers an unprecedented noise figure of 3.8 decibels (dB). The device also includes MaxLinear’s leading edge blocker immunity technology for advanced filtering of strong signals from adjacent channels. The superior phase noise performance provides assurance to set-top box manufacturers that current products will meet future tuner specifications as they continue to evolve.

Additionally, the MxL603 provides market leading power consumption of approximately 350 milliwatts (mW) in digital terrestrial mode. The low power consumption and high level of integration enable low-cost, two-layer tuner-on-board implementations as well as ultra-small tuner modules without the need for expensive heat sinks or four-layer PCBs.

The MxL603 is currently in volume production, with complete reference design kits available for cable and terrestrial applications.

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 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 opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to MaxLinear’s MxL603 high performance TV tuner. These 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 cannot predict its future rates of revenue growth, if any, including whether or the extent to which new product introductions such as the MxL603 may affect future revenues. 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 substantial dependence on a limited number of customers; 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, including risks and uncertainties identified in its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
The David James Agency LLC
David Rodewald, 805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse, 760-692-0711
Senior Director, TV & STB Product Line
yrasse@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear Inc.

Released January 10, 2012