Silicon Laboratories Inc. has expanded its broadcast audio portfolio to include two high-performance radio data system (RDS) receivers. According to the company, the devices, The Si4706 and Si4749, are geared toward meeting the growing demand to couple RDS traffic message channel (TMC) and open data applications (ODA) with static GPS navigation maps to dynamically route drivers around traffic anomalies.
The Si4706 and Si4749 apply patent-pending digital decoding techniques and leverage Silicon Labs' patented digital low-IF architecture for improved receiver sensitivity in low-signal environments and increased reliability of received RDS data. Silicon Labs claims that the Si4706 and Si4749 improve RDS sensitivity over the current leading portable solution by 33 percent, achieving 8µVemf sensitivity with a five percent block error rate (BLER). This, says the company, allows applications using the new receivers to receive data more reliably at greater distances from RDS transmitters. Silicon Labs also adds that the devices decrease decoder error rate (DER) by more than 10 times over the current leading solution.
Moreover, the two new devices are said to include unique features for their target markets. The Si4706 utilizes Silicon Labs' patent-pending tuned resonance technology for embedded antennas to provide "antenna-free" reception and provide audio out for GPS-enabled mobile devices and PNDs. As an automotive companion tuner for in-car telematics applications, the Si4749 is AEC-Q100 qualified and provides a full suite of received signal quality metrics for RDS alternate frequencies (AF) including RSSI, SNR, adjacent and alternate blockers, frequency offset, multi-path interference and other proprietary information. This feature says Silicon Labs, allows automotive tuners to quickly build and monitor AF lists to switch the primary tuner to the highest quality channel seamlessly as users move between broadcast tower coverage.
Samples of both the Si4706 and Si4749 are available now. The Si4706 is packaged in a 20-pin, 3mm x 3mm x 0.55mm QFN package and pricing starts at $4.01 in quantities of 10,000. The Si4749 is packaged in a 24-pin, 4mm x 4mm QFN package and pricing starts at $4.33 in quantities of 10,000. Evaluation boards are available for $150.
Keywords:
data receivers RDS
portable
in-car
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