MaxLinear enables lowest power, widest RF input capture bandwidth DOCSIS products

CARLSBAD, USA: MaxLinear Inc., a leading provider of highly integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communication applications, announced the MxL261, the industry’s first dual-tuner, quad demodulator digital cable front end chip with the ability to capture eight channels in a 200MHz input frequency bandwidth located in the cable spectrum.

Based on MaxLinear’s proprietary digital CMOS process-based RF and mixed-signal technology, the MxL261 is a single-die, global standards, digital cable front end with integrated splitter, two 100MHz wideband tuners, four QAM demodulators, and a four-channel wide IF output.

The two wideband tuners can be independently tuned to capture two 100MHz input frequency bands anywhere in the cable spectrum. Any four of the captured eight channels can be chosen to be converted to four MPEG transport stream outputs using the four QAM demodulators. The remaining four channels are bonded into a contiguous band and transmitted as an IF output.

The MxL261 also includes a splitter output to support more than eight channels when combined in a cascade with another MaxLinear IC. The MxL261 die is mounted in a 7mm x 7mm, 48-pin QFN package.

Today’s generation of DOCSIS cable modems, embedded multimedia terminal adapters (EMTAs), cable gateways, and high-end set-top-boxes utilize eight DOCSIS downstream channels and four upstream channels (eight by four configuration).

The MxL261’s four MPEG transport stream outputs, and wideband analog IF-output seamlessly connect to TI PUMA5 DOCSIS SoC to efficiently capture eight DOCSIS downstream channels. With a simple replacement of the current front end with the MxL261, OEMs may upgrade their field proven and widely deployed four-channel designs to eight-channel designs with minimal changes to hardware and software.

The MxL261 delivers ultra-low power at less than 175mW per channel in full eight-channel mode, eliminating the need for expensive heat removal components such as heat shields and heat sinks. Additionally, the MxL261 can be used in an ultra-low power single-channel battery backup/green mode that eliminates the cost of up to two batteries from an EMTA while still meeting cable operator voice call and standby time requirements upon loss of power to the home.

The low power consumption and the power control flexibility of the chip enable compliance with Energy Star and the European Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services and Broadband Equipment for both standby and operating modes.

“Capturing eight channels in a wide 200MHz frequency band of the cable spectrum, ability to flexibly choose any four channels for QAM demodulation, and the remaining four for IF-output, and integrating such a challenging functionality in a small package with extremely low power consumption is a great achievement for our team,” said Dr. Kishore Seendripu, CEO of MaxLinear.

“MaxLinear prides itself on delivering the most innovative, and power efficient solutions to its customers. We are pleased to be the first to market with such a unique solution that sets the benchmark in RF performance, compactness, and power savings.”

The MxL261 cable front end IC offers two to three times the capture bandwidth of existing solutions. While it is targeted mainly at worldwide DOCSIS applications, the MxL261 can be used for any digital cable applications. It exceeds requirements for both DOCSIS and QAM video, including the stringent test scenarios under SCTE40 plant loading and impairment conditions.

MaxLinear and TI have jointly developed a DOCSIS 3.0 reference design, which includes the MxL261 and the TI Puma 5 SoC. This reference design will be available in conjunction with MxL261 samples.