STMicroelectronics Expands Strong Lineup of Broadcast Set-Top Box Products

Another addition in the Company’s set-top box portfolio, the STiH271EL, is perfectly suited for price-sensitive markets requiring basic zapper functionality without compromise in video performance.

The centre of ST’s expanded family of set-top box system-on-chip ICs is an enhanced processing engine with integrated on-chip features for more efficient end-product design. This robust processing engine enables operators to use lower-cost memory while meeting the latest low-power objectives. These STB SoCs support the full range of HD broadcast and multimedia codecs, hybrid and IP standards, as well as the latest security and content-protection standards with integrated critical middleware stacks from the leading providers.

ST’s chip family expands access to HD zappers, PVRs, Internet Protocol clients and dual-HD boxes supporting connected-TV services (Internet Protocol TV), information channels and Over-The-Top video, gaming, catch-up TV and social networking. The new devices enrich ST’s existing line-up of SoCs for generic IP (STiH207), HD cable/terrestrial (STiH273), and HD satellite (STiH237, STiH239) set-top box applications. Pin and software compatibility throughout the family enables OEMs to optimize their design effort across multiple customer/operator cases.

“Across-the-board compatibility of ST’s family of set-top box SoCs is a key advantage for Jiuzhou,” said Huang Wei, Sales Director for Jiuzhou, a leading Chinese set-top box maker. “This uniform model design shortened our development cycle allowing us to address simultaneously the hybrid satellite, cable and terrestrial markets.”

“Replicating the success of previous joint projects, ST’s super-integrated, secure and optimized HD cable chipset with robust security delivers seamless support for our popular Inspur middleware, allowing great user experience in entry-level set-top boxes,” said Wei Cui, General Manager of Digital Media Division at Inspur, a leading set-top box manufacturer in China.

The new additions in ST’s set-top box SoC portfolio – STiH253 and STiH271EL - are sampling now to lead customers, in 27 x 27mm and 23 x 23mm BGA packages.