MaxLinear Enters Satellite Digital Outdoor-Unit Market With Family of Single-Chip Full-Spectrum Capture™ SoCs
LAS VEGAS – CES – Jan. 6, 2014 – MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced the MxL86x family of 24-channel, Full-Spectrum Capture™ (FSC™) band translation and channel stacking system on chip (SoC) devices that are the industry’s lowest-power single-chip solutions for next-generation satellite digital outdoor units (ODUs).
With a very high level of integration and the industry’s lowest power consumption, the MxL86x chips are designed for worldwide satellite operators that are transitioning to high-density, channel-stacking ODUs. The devices are also suitable for multi-dwelling unit switches.
The availability of next-generation digital ODUs is essential to satellite operators being able to deploy media gateway server set-top-boxes inside the home that can simultaneously deliver multiple channels to multiple IP-client devices such as television screens, IPTV set-tops, smartphones, tablets and others.
Existing analog channel-stacking ODUs are based on complex multi-chip solutions that require expensive external discrete RF filters, a separate microcontroller, and additional FSK or DISEqC ICs for communication between the set-top box (STB) and the ODU. Those solutions do not scale beyond 12 channels stacked in L-Band due to RF filtering architecture limitations.
Leveraging MaxLinear’s ultra-low power Full-Spectrum Capture technology, the MxL86x single-chip devices integrate a complete 24-channel digital stacking switch platform, including filters, communication modems and a microcontroller, which dramatically reduces the ODU system costs and addresses significant legacy thermal design challenges.
MaxLinear’s ultra-low power FSC technology is ideally suited to meet the stringent low power constraints imposed by cost and safety requirements of delivering power from the home set-top-box to the outdoor unit, on the very same coaxial cable that brings the signals into the home.
This 24-channel implementation simplifies the cabling infrastructure to the home and meets the increasing demand for multi-channel content distribution, enabling multi-screen, fast-channel change and PVR applications.
“These new devices are part of MaxLinear’s aggressive expansion into the satellite ODU market by taking advantage of its inherently low-power CMOS process technology and its advanced FSC and multi-channel capabilities to provide high performance, low-power digital ODU solutions,” said Brian Sprague, Vice President and General Manager for Broadband and Consumer Products. “Satellite operators get lower installation cost and less complexity along with the ability to deploy new multi-channel services over a single-cable infrastructure.”
The devices are the latest in the company’s comprehensive satellite product line that includes multi-channel DVB-S/S2 receivers for set top boxes, gateways and other customer premise equipment, and now digital ODU SoCs.
Technical Details
The MxL86x product family includes the MxL868, MxL865 and MxL862.
The MxL868 features eight FSC L-band RF inputs that can be configured for either residential or MDU ODU applications. The device supports three intermediate-frequency (IF) output ports that can be configured for either dual-band/triple-band translation or channel-stacking applications. The MxL865 has five FSC wideband RF inputs with a single L-band IF output. The MxL865 supports a total RF capture bandwidth of 10 GHz. The MxL862 has two FSC wideband RF inputs with a single L-band IF output. The MxL862 supports a total RF capture bandwidth of 4.1GHz.
The MxL86x family supports both FSK and DiSEqC / EN50607 operation on the IF ports. The devices come with a software environment that includes a real-time operating system running on an embedded 32-bit CPU with a complete set of APIs to control the band translation and channel stacking engine and the chip interfaces.
The ultra small parts are packaged in a 10mm x 10mm QFN. The highly integrated devices also feature all major supporting analog functions, such as broadband input and output filters, RF gain blocks, PLLs and automatic gain control (AGC) functionality. Due to the high levels of system integration, the bill of material (BOM) in end applications is reduced to a minimal number of low-cost, passive components, which enables ultra-compact, low-cost system solutions when compared to existing analog implementations.
Availability
All MxL86x products are now sampling. Product sales information is available from MaxLinear’s worldwide sales force or by emailing sales@maxlinear.com.
About MaxLinear, Inc.
MaxLinear, Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com.
MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture, FSC and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.
Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to MaxLinear’s entry into the satellite television market and our introduction of the MxL86x family of SoC devices. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot predict whether or to what extent our entry into the satellite market will result in material future revenues. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including (among others) intense competition in our industry; the ability of our customers to cancel or reduce orders; uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop, including the satellite television market; our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; and the potential for intellectual property litigation, which is prevalent in our industry. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
David Rodewald
The David James Agency LLC
Tel: +1 805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse
Senior Director, Consumer Product Line
Tel: +1 760-692-0711
yrasse@maxlinear.com