AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2008--Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced the expansion of
its broadcast audio portfolio to include two high-performance radio
data system (RDS) receivers. These devices meet the growing demand to
couple RDS traffic message channel (TMC) and open data applications
(ODA) with static GPS navigation maps to dynamically route drivers
around traffic anomalies. The Si4706 and Si4749 receive RDS data with
greater accuracy and reliability, offering unprecedented integration
and performance for all classes of GPS navigation applications,
including portable navigation devices (PNDs), GPS-enabled mobile
devices and in-car telematics.
The Si4706 and Si4749 apply sophisticated, patent-pending digital
decoding techniques and leverage the strength of Silicon Labs'
patented digital low-IF architecture to offer improved receiver
sensitivity in low-signal environments, increased reliability of
received RDS data and unmatched RDS synchronization persistence. The
Si4706 and Si4749 improve RDS sensitivity over the current leading
portable solution by 33 percent, achieving 8 uVemf sensitivity with a
five percent block error rate (BLER). This allows applications using
the new receivers to receive data more reliably at greater distances
from RDS transmitters. The devices also decrease decoder error rate
(DER) by more than 10 times over the current leading solution,
resulting in higher confidence in received RDS data.
The Si4706 and Si4749 are able to quickly establish and maintain
RDS synchronization in all types of signal environments, minimizing
initial synchronization time and avoiding time required to
re-establish dropped connections and recover lost data. The devices'
ability to maintain RDS synchronization is more than two times better
than leading technology, maintaining synchronization in environments
with greater than 70 percent BLER. They also reduce average
synchronization times to less than 90 ms in normal signal
environments.
"Silicon Labs has quickly established market leadership for both
receive and transmit technology in portable navigation devices. The
Si4706 and Si4749 further extend our market leadership position and
launch our product offerings into the automotive market," said Mark
Thompson, general manager of Silicon Laboratories. "By leveraging our
proven and patented digital architecture, Silicon Labs is able to help
customers provide the best all-around experience for the fast-growing
navigation markets."
The two new devices have unique features for their target markets.
The Si4706 utilizes Silicon Labs' patent-pending tuned resonance
technology for embedded antennas to provide "antenna-free" reception
and provide audio out for GPS-enabled mobile devices and PNDs. As an
automotive companion tuner for in-car telematics applications, the
Si4749 is AEC-Q100 qualified and provides a full suite of received
signal quality metrics for RDS alternate frequencies (AF) including
RSSI, SNR, adjacent and alternate blockers, frequency offset,
multi-path interference and other proprietary information. This
feature allows automotive tuners to quickly build and monitor AF lists
to seamlessly switch the primary tuner to the highest quality channel
as users move between broadcast tower coverage. This is a popular
requirement in Europe where broadcast power is limited.
The Si4706 and Si4749 offer a highly flexible applications
programming interface (API) that supports both minimal interrupts with
only the very highest reliability in the RDS data, or alternatively,
more interrupts more frequently, providing detailed visibility by
individual RDS block. This allows the host processor to conserve power
or perform RDS post-processing according to the customer preference.
The devices also provide interrupt programmability on changes to RDS
block A or block B, and the on-chip buffer will cache up to 11 full
RDS groups with BLER.
Pricing and Availability
Samples of both the Si4706 and Si4749 are available now. The
Si4706 is packaged in a 20-pin, 3- x 3- x 0.55-mm QFN package and
pricing starts at $4.01 in quantities of 10K. The Si4749 is packaged
in a 24-pin, 4- x 4-mm QFN package and pricing starts at $4.33 in
quantities of 10K. Evaluation boards are available for $150.
RDS and Traffic Message Channel (TMC)
RDS is a data service on the FM sub-carrier at 57 kHz offset. TMC
is a nationally supported traffic anomaly information service carried
on RDS. TMC is popular throughout Europe and the US and boasts an
average 30-second delay between traffic event and TMC notification to
the end-devices. More information on TMC can be found at
http://www.tmcforum.com/.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in
mixed-signal design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of highly
integrated, easy-to-use products offers customers significant
advantages in performance, size and power consumption. These patented
solutions serve a broad set of markets and applications including
consumer, communications, computing, industrial and automotive.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Silicon Labs is a global enterprise
with operations, sales and design activities worldwide. The company is
committed to contributing to our customers' success by recruiting the
highest quality talent to create industry-changing innovations. For
more information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements, please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the
SEC. Silicon Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S"
symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are
trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted
herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Silicon Laboratories Inc., Austin
Lindsey Starnes, +1-512-532-5349
lindsey.starnes@silabs.com
SOURCE: Silicon Laboratories Inc.