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Mixed Signal/Analog

Silicon Labs Introduces Industry's First Fully-Integrated AM/FM Radio Receivers with Long-Wave Band Coverage

13th November 2007

Silicon Laboratories

ES Admin

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Silicon Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced the expansion of its successful broadcast audio product line to include the industry’s first fully-integrated AM/FM radio receivers with short-wave (SW) and long-wave (LW) band coverage. The high-performance Si4734/35 integrate the entire receiver from antenna input to audio output reducing size and solution component count by more than 90 percent compared to existing implementations. In a tiny 3- x 3-mm package, the Si4734/35 not only simplifies the design of existing SW and LW radios but also enables the addition of SW/LW capability to consumer electronics devices such as handsets and MP3 players, broadening the reach of SW and LW broadcast content used by consumers in Europe.

The unprecedented integration of the Si4734/35 ultimately reduces design time, allowing customers to bring their products to market more quickly with a higher level of quality. The Si4734/35 use a patented digital low-IF architecture with an on-chip digital signal processor (DSP) that enables a variety of features and significant performance enhancements not possible using traditional analog architecture-based products. The receivers offer fully automated digital tuning in all supported bands, including 1 kHz step sizes, and selectable channel bandwidth filters for optimal audio quality. In addition, the Si4734/35 family does not require factory-aligned components, further improving reliability and reducing manufacturing cost compared to existing receivers which can require up to three stages of manual tuning.

The high level of integration and functionality provided by the Si4734/35 family not only simplifies design but also enhances the consumer experience. Unmatched seek performance allows customers to rapidly find all available stations with no false stops. Superior selectivity and a highly linear front end enable consumers to hear more stations in crowded broadcast environments. These features are vital differentiators for short-wave frequencies where there are hundreds of valid broadcasters in a very wide spectrum. The Si4734/35 are EN55020 certified, and the only radios to offer AM/FM/SW/LW bands in a single IC with FM RDS decode (Si4735), providing station and song identification to listeners.

“With only a few external components and a simple command interface, the Si4734/35 can quickly replace existing solutions to deliver higher quality radios with more features and reduced system cost,” said Mark Thompson, general manager of broadcast audio products. “The Si4734/5 is another good example of Silicon Labs leveraging proven technology and IP to expand into new markets and ultimately enhancing the end user’s experience.”

The Si4734/35 are footprint compatible with the Silicon Labs portfolio of FM receivers, AM/FM receivers, FM transmitters and FM transceivers. This allows customers to easily and cost-effectively configure their products with a range of features appealing to different end-customer segments. A full reference board with complete schematics, layout files and a robust software development environment is available to customers to facilitate evaluation and design.