STMicroelectronics tests digital AM/FM radio receiver chips

NEW DELHI: Suppliers of integrated circuits for car entertainment solutions
STMicroelectronics has announced that it is sampling a new digital AM/FM radio

receiver chipset for use in automotive applications.






Sophisticated digital signal processing techniques allow the chipset to feature
excellent reception quality while reducing interference even in presence of

challenging signal conditions such as weak field and strong multipath

(reflection from mountains and buildings).






Jointly developed by ST and Bosch's subsidiary Blaupunkt, this advanced digital
receiver integrates audio signal processing and Radio Data System (RDS)

decoding, thus satisfying the demanding needs of today's mid- and high-end car

radios for world-class quality, high performance, and system cost optimization.






The new chipset includes two TDA7528 Radio Frequency (RF) front-end ICs and one
STA3005 Digital Signal Processor (DSP) back-end IC. The solution tunes to all

current analog radio services worldwide (AM, FM and US Weather band) as well as

to the recently introduced digital broadcasts, providing suitable interfaces to

external decoders.






An advanced digital audio processor, powered by an ST's proprietary DSP core,
greatly enhances the system's flexibility and efficiency meeting all the needs

of in-vehicle sound processing and equalization. Additionally, an embedded ARM7

microcontroller supervises all the internal peripherals, reducing the workload

and software complexity of the car radio's main microprocessor, and fully

supporting RDS management.






“The introduction of this new chipset completes the ST's AM/FM tuner product
portfolio with state-of-the art digital technology and performance. The system

is the first member of a new digital tuner family that will cover the full range

of application needs, from mid- to high-end car radios, further consolidating

ST's leadership role in this market segment,” said Domenico Rossi, general

manager Car-Radio and Multimedia Division of ST's Automotive Product Group.






The TDA7528 and STA3005 are supplied in LQFP64 (10x10) and TQFP144 (20x20)
ECOPACK® packages, respectively. Samples of the chipset are available now and

volume production is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.






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