NxtWave Communications and Alps Electric Integrate Components For New 8-VSB Receiver
LANGHORNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- NxtWave Communications Inc. (nxtwavecomm.com), a developer of broadband communications integrated circuits (ICs), and Japan-based Alps Electric Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of tuners and electronic components, announced that the NXT2002 VSB receiver chip has been integrated into the Alps TDMU7 single conversion tuner series.
The tuner/demodulator package is intended for digital TV (DTV), set-top box, and PC-DTV products for countries that have adopted the ATSC standard.
Now that the challenges to the ATSC standard have been resolved, the DTV market is poised for rapid growth. Consumer electronics companies are accelerating their product developments to meet the increasing demand for HDTV. The TDMU7 was designed to meet this demand by providing manufacturers an integrated module that relieves them of the burden of developing discrete receiver designs. Traditionally, DTV receiver designs required a team of engineers to select, design, and debug the front-end components. This effort normally takes several months to a year.
This revolutionary product is the first ATSC-compliant DTV receiver to combine the newest demodulator technology with a single conversion tuner. It obsoletes similar products that use dual conversion tuner architectures with previous generation VSB demodulators. The tuner section provides exceptional sensitivity, frequency response, and out of band channel rejection. The NXT2002 demodulator provides unmatched high Doppler frequency dynamic multipath performance that is necessary for DTV reception with an indoor or outdoor antenna.
"The combined efforts of Alps and NxtWave have produced a truly exceptional result for our customers," said Matt Miller, president and CEO of NxtWave Communications. "The TDMU integrated Tuner/demodulator is a cost effective solution, providing outstanding reception performance while minimizing our customers' engineering effort and risk."
"We are very proud to announce our first TDMU integrated Tuner/demodulator module for the US DTV market," said Katsumi Tobita, deputy general manager of Alps RF Devices Division. "This easy-to-integrate Tuner/demodulator will give our customers a time to market advantage by accelerating their end product design cycle."
TDMU7 samples and evaluation systems will be available July 2001. The price of the TDMU7 is $100 each in sample quantities. Full production will begin December 2001. For additional information about the TDMU7 contact Public Relations & Secretarial Department of Alps Electric Co., Ltd., 1-7 Yukigaya-Otsuka-cho, Otaku, Tokyo, 145-8501. Phone: +81(3) 5499-8001, Fax: +81(3) 3726-1386.
For additional information regarding the NXT2002 VSB Receiver contact the Sales & Marketing Department of NxtWave Communications, 6 Venture, Suite 350, Irvine, CA 92618. Phone: 949/585-1800, Fax: 949/585-1818. Samples of the product will be on display, by appointment, at the Alps and NxtWave suites in Las Vegas during NAB2001.
About Alps Electric Co. Ltd.
Alps Electric Co. is a Japanese corporation that has manufactured various electronic components since its foundation in 1948. Based on its innovative proprietary technology and market outlook, the company provides cutting-edge electronic components that contribute to the advancement of a multimedia society in the four core businesses of communications and broadcasting: components, computer peripherals and car electronics.
Based on a four-sphere business structure comprising Japan, Asia, the United States and Europe, Alps advances global corporate activities that strengthen partnerships with countries and regions throughout the world. Additional information may be accessed at www.alps.com
About NxtWave Communications Inc.
NxtWave Communications develops broadband communications integrated circuits (ICs) for use in multiple mass markets. Using efficient and robust modulation and demodulation techniques, the company's IC solutions satisfy the requirements of manufacturers of cable modems, interactive set-top boxes, digital TVs and PC video products.
NxtWave Communications leverages proprietary algorithms in its receiver implementations of industry standard transmission formats including QAM, VSB, QPSK, COFDM and NTSC. NxtWave Communications has headquarters in Langhorne, at One Summit Square, Route 413 & Doublewoods Road, with worldwide marketing and sales headquarters in Irvine, Calif. For additional information visit www.nxtwavecomm.com.
