NXP (Philips), chipset universale per digital radio

NXP, il ramo dei semiconduttori del gruppo Philips, annuncia un nuovo chipset e un approccio SDR per la realizzazione di sistemi di car entertainment aperti a tutti i sistemi di radio digitale terrestre (DRM compreso) e "programmabili" per la commercializzazione nei diversi mercati. L'accordo con Ibiquity garantisce anche il supporto di HD Radio.
La soluzione verrà presentata il prossimo gennaio, in occasione del CES di Las Vegas.

NXP, iBiquity Drive Multi-Standard Digital Terrestrial Radio In Cars

Revolutionary software-defined radio approach enables dedicated solution for AM, FM, DAB, DRM and HD Radio broadcasts

Eindhoven, The Netherlands, December 11, 2007 - NXP Semiconductors, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, today introduced a multi-standard digital terrestrial radio solution for high-quality analog and digital radio for in-car entertainment, anywhere in the world. The system uses NXP newest AM/FM Car DSP, the Nexperia™ PNX9525 including NXP's own DRM and DAB software, as well as the SAF355x including the IBOC technology from iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer of digital HD Radio™ technology.
Building on the vision of a single-chip solution for multi-standard radio, the solution uses NXP's innovative software-defined radio approach to effortlessly manage multiple frequency streams and seamlessly integrate with existing DSP-based analog radio, in a very small footprint - saving car manufacturers time, effort and costs. Consumers will benefit from intelligent signal search, concurrent radio and data feeds, as well as the ability to stream different broadcasts to separate passengers in the same car - giving them their preferred choice of radio.
“We are enthusiastic about working with NXP as we grow the demand for HD Radio technology in the automotive market,” said Jeff Jury, COO, iBiquity Digital Corporation. “NXP is enabling car manufacturers to incorporate HD Radio reception capability alongside other broadcast standards - to give consumers the ultimate in-car radio experience - in a hassle-free, easy-to-integrate solution across global variants of their car models.”
“Leveraging iBiquity's HD Radio IP, NXP is now able to offer a globally unified platform for in-car radio, whilst simultaneously progressing the technology towards a single-chip solution for multi-standard radio using proven software algorithms,” said Joern Conze, Product Marketing Manager, NXP Semiconductors. “Manufacturers are looking for a universally applicable in-car radio solution that is highly integrated, flexible and scalable. NXP offers just that - a simple upgrade path from analog to digital radio.”
The Nexperia PNX9525 is a software programmable DRM and DAB platform that allows seamless switching between the two standards. The SAF355x incorporates the HD Radio technology from iBiquity. NXP's solution combines the PNX9525 and the SAF355x, which can then be integrated with existing DSP-based AM/FM platforms to deliver a multi-standard digital terrestrial radio experience. This flexibility reduces integration challenges and time-to-market for car manufacturers by offering a single system solution that can be programmed for DRM and DAB for Europe, and HD Radio in the US.
According to market analysis firm iSuppli Corp., “The combined demand for AM/FM and digital terrestrial radios for in-car use will increase from 101.4 million units in 2007 to 141.9 million units by 2013. As multiple geo-specific radio broadcast standards develop across the world, car manufacturers will have to examine what overlaps exist between the standards before deploying their roll-out strategies. A multi-standard radio solution that can be programmed to suit different regions will reduce the time-to-market.” [Source: iSuppli Automotive Infotainment Systems Market Tracker - H2 2007]

HD Radio receivers are available in all BMWs and in the MINI Cooper and Cooper S hardtops. Volvo has announced that it will made HD Radio receivers available on most of its 2009 vehicles; and Hyundai and Jaguar have announced that they will make the technology available on select model 2008 vehicles.

Availability

NXP's in-car multi-standard digital terrestrial radio solution will be demoed at CES 2008, Las Vegas, at the company's invitation-only suite at the Wynn Hotel and Casino.

About NXP

NXP is a top 10 semiconductor company founded by Philips more than 50 years ago. Headquartered in Europe, the company has 37,000 employees working in more than 20 countries and posted sales of EUR 5 billion in 2006. NXP creates semiconductors, system solutions and software that deliver better sensory experiences in mobile phones, personal media players, TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices. News from NXP is located at www.nxp.com.