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Zarlink Introduces World’s First Single-Chip Tuner for Free-to-Air Satellite DTV Receivers
OTTAWA, CANADA, August 3, 2005 – Zarlink Semiconductor (NYSE/TSX:ZL) today launched the ZL10039 device, the industry’s first single-chip satellite tuner for FTA (free-to-air) satellite DTV receivers. Combined with Zarlink’s ZL10313 satellite demodulator, the ZL10039 direct conversion tuner offers the most integrated and cost-effective front-end solution for the FTA satellite market.
The new tuner includes a high-performance LNA (low-noise amplifier), eliminating the need for additional RF circuitry. Together with the ZL10313 demodulator and supported by the ZLE10541 front-end reference design, satellite STB (set-top box) manufacturers can now achieve the performance required by FTA receivers directly on the motherboard – a cost-effective design approach that has been used in the PayTV market for several years. This design can save over five percent of the total receiver hardware BOM (bill-of-materials) costs.
With the ZL10039 satellite tuner, Zarlink strengthens its leadership position in front-end solutions for digital receivers. Zarlink’s chips are designed into FTA and subscriber-based digital satellite systems worldwide. Satellite was the first digital TV delivery mechanism to achieve worldwide adoption, and still leads in volume, with over 30 million shipments predicted for 2006. Deployments in China and India are continuing to drive demand.
“The advances we have achieved with the ZL10039 tuner and reference design result from our experience serving the high-volume market for free-to-air receivers,” says Bob Ferreira, DTV front-end product line director, Zarlink Semiconductor. “Our tuner with integrated LNA is the first to enable large-scale implementation of FTA front-end designs directly onto the motherboard, saving costs while maintaining performance levels.”
Integrated amplifier for variable conditions
Unlike the PayTV market, where the quality of installation and signal strength is consistently good, the FTA market offers more difficult conditions. The quality of the signal components (dish, cable, connectors) and the installation can be poor, resulting in unacceptable levels of signal attenuation. To address this, and to maximize the number of channels that can be captured, FTA manufacturers typically require receivers with higher performance front-ends, using an external LNA to meet the requirement for additional sensitivity.
For most manufacturers, this added complexity makes an on-board front-end solution unattractive, leading to the selection of a separate and more costly front-end module. The ZL10039 high sensitivity single-chip satellite tuner is the market’s first to resolve this issue.
Sophisticated feature set
The ZL10039 device is a single-chip wideband direct conversion tuner for 1 – 45 MSps (megasymbols per second) DVB-S (Digital Video Broadcast-Satellite), DSS (Digital Satellite System), and 8PSK (8-phase shift keying) receiver systems.
Key features include the integrated LNA, an integrated RF loop-through and a “power and forget” VCO (voltage controlled oscillator), eliminating the need for time-consuming VCO calibration required by some competing products.
Complete front-end STB solution
Zarlink’s ZLE10541 reference design, combining the ZL10039 tuner with the ZL10313 demodulator, offers key features including high speed “blind scan” – an on-chip hard-wired controller that enables the chip to achieve ultra-fast channel scanning capability with little intervention from an external processor. The demodulator provides strong performance across the whole satellite 1 – 45 MSps DVB-S symbol rate range.
Zarlink’s two-chip RF subsystem design consumes less than 1 W (watt) of power when in full operation, with an integrated sleep pin that reduces power consumption 1,000-fold in stand-by mode.
The ZL10039 tuner is in full production. The ZLE10541reference design is available to qualified customers. For more information, please visit http://products.zarlink.com/profiles/ZL10039 or http://dtv.zarlink.com/.
About Zarlink Semiconductor
For over 30 years, Zarlink Semiconductor has delivered semiconductor solutions that drive the capabilities of voice, enterprise, broadband and wireless communications. The Company’s success is built on its technology strengths including voice and data networks, consumer and ultra low-power communications, and high-performance analog. For more information, visit www.zarlink.com.
Shareholders and other individuals wishing to receive, free of charge, copies of the reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Regulatory Authorities, should visit the Company’s web site at www.zarlink.com or contact investor relations.
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among others, the following: rapid technological developments and changes; our dependence on our foundry suppliers and third-party subcontractors; increasing price and product competition; our ability to achieve profitability in the future; our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations and other factors inherent in our international operations; and other factors referenced in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 25, 2005. Investors are encouraged to consider the risks detailed in this filing.
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For further information, editors contact:
North America
Heather McCulligh
Media Relations
613
270-7322
heather.mcculligh@zarlink.com
Asia-Pacific
Karen Li
The Hoffman Agency – China
86-10-6507-0985
kli@hoffman.com.cn
Europe
Simon Krelle
Pinnacle Marketing Communications
44
(0) 7973 821036
simonk@pinnaclemarcom.com
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