14 DAY TRIAL // While STMicroelectronics is much better known for its mobile communication solutions, the company also designs and builds STB controllers, two new such solutions just being announced which allow for standard-definition (SD) or high-definition (HD) equipment to share the same printed circuit board (PCB) design in order to reduce manufacturing costs.
This means that both the STi7162 and the STi5262 have identical pin assignments, thus enabling developers to build two separate solutions using the same PCB, a measure that will surely put manufacturing costs down.
Furthermore, these new chips are software compatible with the previous STi7167 and STi5267 SoCs and require just a two-layer printed circuit board, reducing build costs even more.
The STi7162 and STi5262 are manufactured using a 55nm process, each chip combining an STB decoder with a DVB-C cable and DVB-T terrestrial demodulators, Ethernet support also being among the available optionals as both of these SoCs offer IPTV support.
Other features include ST’s proven DELTA video decoding system for SD and HD that supports MPEG2, H264 and VC-1 streams, a 2D graphics and display subsystem that is also capable of 3D user-interface effects as well as a Linux/OS21-compatible application processor with up to 1000-DMIPS (Dhrystone MIPS) performance.
“With these two next-generation demodulator/decoder ICs, ST enables TV operators and equipment vendors to satisfy growing end-user demands for differentiated services at highly competitive prices,” said Eric Jumelet, group vice president, Business Management, Home Video Division, at STMicroelectronics.
According to the company, the STi5262 and STi7162 are available for purchase right now in 620-ball PBGA packages, pricing being available on request to lead OEM manufacturers.
Sadly, no details are available about when we should expect the very first solutions build on these new chips to make their appearance in the market as STMicro has not disclosed any information in this regard.