Low-cost satellite STB decoder

Features: Supplier of silicon chips for set-top

boxes (STB) ST Microelectronics has announced a new low-cost satellite STB

receiver/decoder chip — the STI5188 — intended for high-volume free-to-air

markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Europe.






This device combines the functions of STV0288 DVB-S receiver and the STM5118
mass-market STB decoder, to create a product that will enable the manufacture of

digital receivers competing in cost with analog sets. The STI5188 is the first

low-cost decoder for the STB market to be implemented in 90nm process

technology.






The STI5188 integrates the QPSK (Quadrature-Phase-Shift-Keying) demodulator,
together with audio DACs and VCXO, allowing manufacturers to cut their total BOM

cost and to greatly simplify board design and assembly; PCB layout is also

helped by a small 20x20mm QFP package. With integrated audio DACs it offer a

direct connection to the TV input, making further savings compared to earlier

generation and competitive products. The use of serial Flash memory in the new

device has reduced the number of I/O lines required and allowed the package size

to be smaller — PCB routing is also simplified, with less chance of EMI

problems.






System software runs on a high-performance embedded ST20 32-bit RISC CPU core
— the dominant CPU in the STB Market — operating at 200MHz. A dedicated 2D

graphics engine allows the creation of a rich user interface (UI), including

mosaic channel presentation and strong graphics content. ST's ST20-based

reference designs and development support offer a full turnkey solution, from

hardware to UI, simplifying product design and reducing the time to market.






Available in a 176-pin 20x20mm QFP package, engineering samples of the STI5188
have already been shipped to key customers, with volume production planned for

the end of Q2 2006.






Price: $4.50 for quantities of 500k units.