Fresco Microchip launches world's smallest silicon tuner for analog TV

TORONTO, CANADA: Fresco Microchip Inc., a developer of leading edge RF, mixed-signal and digital signal processing integrated circuits (ICs), announced that Shenzhen Longsign Electronics Co. Ltd has selected the FM2150 analog silicon tuner for its first silicon-tuner based modules. The FM2150 is Fresco's silicon tuner optimized for global analog television.

"In many markets, demand for analog-only television remains high as the worldwide transition to digital continues well beyond 2015," said Randy Lawson, principal analyst, display and consumer electronics, IHS. "The ability to meet the consumer demand for lower-cost, thinner flat panel sets is key to capturing increased share. TV manufacturers are focused on ways to monetize the significant growth in regions such as Eastern Europe, China, India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia."

Emerging markets are highly cost-competitive where silicon suppliers are selected on their ability to significantly reduce total solution cost and complexity. Fresco's new silicon tuner leverages an innovative, game-changing architecture that eliminates redundant functionality found in many silicon tuners and television system-on-chips (SOCs).

"We are pleased to feature Fresco's FM2150 in our first silicon-tuner based module," said Ni Jian Hui, CTO, Shenzhen Longsign Electronics. "Fresco has introduced a unique silicon tuner that is well-aligned with popular next-generation SOC architectures and meets the stringent market requirement for cost-competitive, ultra-thin products."

Available in an ultra-small 4mm x 4mm QFN package, the FM2150 receives all standard and non-standard analog (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) television signals supporting the complete RF to IF signal path. Existing silicon tuner architectures can be unnecessarily expensive by duplicating analog demodulation and other functions already integrated into many TV back-ends and require expensive external components to meet industry performance requirements.

The FM2150 is the industry's first true RF-only silicon TV tuner to eliminate unnecessary circuits by seamlessly interfacing to these SOCs to deliver the lowest system solution cost and versatility required for TV tuner module and on-board designs.

"As a top tuner supplier shipping more than 20 million tuners in China and major overseas markets, we are excited that Longsign has selected the FM2150," said Lance Greggain, CEO of Fresco Microchip. "Fresco's silicon tuner capitalizes on our incredible success and leadership in television, marking an exciting expansion of our product portfolio."