The DRX-H family of multi-standard demodulators target digital TV-sets, set-top boxes, multimedia-PCs, DVD recorders, PVRs and tuner modules.
Micronas has announced the availability of its DRX-H family of multi-standard 8VSB/QAM/QPSK/NTSC demodulator products
The DRX-H product family is said to deliver superior performance and ATSC compliance in US digital television (DTV) applications, while enabling compliance with the "FCC tuner mandate". Under the FCC order, TV manufacturers are required to integrate digital receivers into televisions and certain other consumer electronics devices by certain deadlines.
Based on Micronas' proprietary primeD technology, the DRX-H provides an advanced solution to satisfy the increasing market demand for more robust and higher quality DTV reception performance. Signal reflections, commonly referred to as echoes or ghosts create significant reception problems for DTV systems by introducing a time-delayed but otherwise identical signal to the receiver. Echoes can be caused by any obstruction in the signal path like the shape of the terrain, buildings, cars, even airplanes, and are especially prevalent in urban environments. These echoes often reach or exceed the level of the desired signal (so-called 0dB echoes), disrupting reception with most of today's solutions.
As opposed to merely filtering echoes out, primeD technology combines multiple echoes to create a single, stronger signal, resulting in enhanced overall reception quality. Devices employing DRX-H are able to cope with notoriously difficult terrestrial reception situations and provide measurable improvements to the overall DTV experience of consumers. The performance benefits of DRX-H compared with other available solutions are supported by lab and field tests conducted by independent test facilities.
The DRX-H integrates an ATSC A/53-compliant 8VSB demodulator with an ITU-T J.83 Annex B-compliant QAM demodulator, a high quality NTSC demodulator, and a BTSC decoder, as well as an OOB (out of band) QPSK demodulator and OOB Local Oscillator for seamless integration into DCR (digital cable ready) television sets.
The DRX-H is optimized for applications ranging from flat panel HDTVs to highly space-constrained Integrated Tuner/Demodulator (IT/D) modules. All features of the DRX-H are controlled via a standard I(c)~C-interface. The DRX-H includes its own on-chip memory.