Philips Semiconductors Launches World's First Dual DVB-S/DSS Channel Receiver For Personal Video Recorder (PVR) Satellite Set-Top Boxes

Enables Consumers to Watch One Program and Record a Second Program On an Internal Hard Disk Drive

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 01 /PRNewswire/ -- Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; Amsterdam: PHI), announces the world's first IC to embed two DVB-S/DSS channel decoders. The highly integrated TDA10093HT solution offers satellite broadcasters and set-top box & TV manufacturers significant system cost reductions, when compared with two conventional channel receivers. Targeted at next-generation satellite set-top boxes, the chip will enable a new class of feature-rich broadcast applications to be offered to consumers.

Already the leading supplier of competitive solutions for satellite set-top boxes, Philips Semiconductors' latest announcement promises to speed the widespread adoption of advanced functions via the satellite set-top box. Applications for the TDA10093HT chip include DVB-S and DSS receivers, time-shifting boxes with receivers' functionalities and next-generation set-top boxes, featuring PIP (picture in picture), watch and record and PVR functionality.

"By providing samples early August, Philips is the first company to offer such a high level of integration at such low cost," commented Olivier Harquin, product marketing manager Channel Products, Philips Semiconductors Rennes (France). "Embedding a hard disk drive in satellite set-top boxes will enable viewers to watch and record simultaneously -- a feature that is becoming increasingly popular with the viewing public. The TDA10093HT enables this advanced functionality at very low cost and is a superb addition to our product portfolio."

Based on the TDA10085HT, the TDA10093HT, housed in a small TQFP100, is a single-chip dual QPSK channel receiver for satellite television reception that matches both DSS and DVB-S standards. Each channel is fully independent and can be programmed via the I2C bus. The device contains 8-bit Flash analog-to-digital converters, a variable rate BPSK/QPSK coherent demodulator and forward error correction functions per channel. The transport stream is available in parallel mode for the two channels, but also simultaneously in serial, for one of the selected channels.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the TDA10093HT are available now, priced at $10.00 USD for quantities of over 10,000. Full production will begin in Q1 2002.

About Philips Semiconductors

Philips Semiconductors, with revenues of US $6.3 billion in 2000, is a world leader in silicon systems and standard products for wireless communications, digital entertainment, computing and automotive applications. The organization designs, develops and manufactures silicon solutions based on its innovative Nexperia(TM) architecture to create living technology for its customers building products, service providers using the products, and consumers enjoying the resulting products and services. For more information: www.semiconductors.philips.com.