Silicon Wave First to Deliver True Single-Chip Cable Tuner; Proven Design Process Applied for Low Cost, Low Power RF Solutions - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Dec 20, 1999

Silicon Wave Inc. announces its SiW100 cable tuner integrated circuit (IC), the first tuner to completely integrate all critical RF elements onto a single, low power device for cable modems and cable set top boxes.

Designed to meet the price, power, and size requirements for consumer broadband access devices, the SiW100 chip includes all the front-end receiver and channel selection functions of a high performance dual-conversion CATV tuner in a single 48-pin leadless package. Uniquely, the SiW100 chip includes the front-end Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA), Automatic Gain Control (AGC), VCO and Synthesizer with no external resonant elements. Silicon Wave expects the price for the SiW100 chip to be under $10 in 10K lots; limited quantities will be available in the second quarter of 2000.

"Silicon Wave is the first Bluetooth vendor to enter the single-chip TV tuner fray. Their approach using silicon-on-insulator gives them the advantage of integrating the Low Noise Amplifier onto the same die as the tuning circuit," said Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst with Cahners In-Stat Group, a market research firm in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Next generation set top boxes will include as many as four individual tuners, so having the LNA inside the tuner gives them a size and cost advantage over other solutions."

Using experience gained from developing 2.4 GHz transceiver ICs for the Bluetooth market, Silicon Wave is achieving system level integration while still meeting the most demanding performance specifications of both distortion and low phase noise. The integrated VCO and synthesizer provide significant improvements by eliminating the need for externally "tuning" the chip during production as well as emitting very low phase noise. The SiW100 chip performs clear and concise on-chip tuning over the entire cable system 880 MHz spectrum.

The SiW100 chip dissipates less than one watt in full power mode and offers variable power and sleep modes optimal for services powered through the cable provider's network. Unlike other tuners recently announced, Silicon Wave's design utilizes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) BiCMOS process, which delivers lower power, smaller size and better isolation than traditional CMOS or bipolar technologies.

The highly integrated system-on-chip design of the SiW100 device achieves the demanding performance specifications required for the broadband CATV industry, including DOCSIS (256 QAM) specifications, while keeping total power dissipation below any other silicon solution announced. A low power, small tuner is essential for providing multiple tuners in a cable-based consumer broadband access device and more importantly, for cable telephony. In addition, the chip performs over the full outdoor, industrial temperature range from -40(Degrees)C to 85(Degrees)C. The SiW100 chip is also compatible with the U.S., European and Japanese cable requirements having a selectable IF-frequency output (36MHz-57MHz).

"I immediately knew the potential when Silicon Wave successfully applied the combination of standard CMOS with bipolar and silicon-on-insulator to RF applications," said Charles Merk, vice president of broadband access products for Silicon Wave. "It was obvious we could apply the technology to benefit the cable market."

Charles "Chuck" Merk recently joined Silicon Wave to lead the company's efforts into the broadband access market. Chuck brings over thirty years' experience in business development and product design in the telephone and CATV industries to Silicon Wave. Previously, Chuck held positions at Bell Laboratories, Motorola, General Instrument and was vice president at Philips Broadband where he first proposed an MPEG end-to-end video delivery system to the cable industry in 1991. Most recently, Chuck has led his own consulting firm for new business and product development in the CATV industry.

Based in San Diego, Silicon Wave develops and manufactures RF-enabled systems-on-chip solutions for use in wireless and wireline broadband communications systems and products. The venture funded startup, founded in 1997, has assembled a seasoned, multi-talented design team that takes a system-level approach to IC design. Silicon Wave sells IC solutions to a broad array of suppliers and manufacturers of cellular telephones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops, cable modems, set top boxes, and other consumer electronic products. www.siliconwave.com. Contact at info@siliconwave.com.