MaxLinear Inc. announced that Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) has produced over 1 million digital satellite outdoor units (D-ODU) using their MxL868 channel stacking and band translation system on chip (SoC). The ODUs have shipped to a single, major satellite operator, who is a leading adopter of digital channel stacking technology.
MTI, based in Hsinchu, Taiwan, has established leading positions in the fields of satellite communications technologies, microwave radios, mobile base station components and broadband wireless access products. In the direct broadcast satellite industry, it is recognized for their LNBs and multi-dwelling unit switches.
The MxL868 is based on their Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC) technology, and can simultaneously digitize up to 4 GHz of spectrum from eight RF inputs. Each 500 MHz-wide RF input can be translated in its entirety to another 500 MHz-wide frequency band between 250 MHz and 3000 MHz and be fed to one of three outputs. Individual transponders from each RF input can also be selected, filtered and combined onto a single coaxial cable for distribution to multi-channel satellite gateways and individual low cost client set-top boxes.
MTI selected the MxL868 because of its high level of integration, market-leading performance and low power consumption. Unlike competitor’s products, which rely on costly BGA packaging, it is packaged in a standard 10mm x 10mm QFN device that reduces cost, simplifies manufacturing and improves reliability. It integrates all major supporting analog functions such as broadband input and output filters, RF gain blocks, channel select filters, automatic gain control (AGC) functionality and power management controllers. All features are software addressable and are controlled by an embedded host CPU microcontroller that communicates via FSK and DiSEqC modems with the set-top boxes attached to its outputs.
MaxLinear’s D-ODU product family has been very well received by customers due to its high level of integration, unmatched performance and low power consumption to meet strict operator specifications. The MxL868 exceeds strict RF performance requirements from leading direct broadcast satellite operators. Having this additional performance margin helps customers like MTI significantly reduce the design complexity and as a result they were first-to-market with this robust D-ODU solution.
Technical Details
The MxL868 is part of a family of SoCs designed to improve upon the functionality of existing analog channel-stacking ICs. These analog solutions are only able to support up to three channels per device and require additional discrete bill of materials, custom discrete filters and external microcontrollers. It supports eight individual FSC inputs and features up to three IF outputs packaged in a single 10mmx10mm QFN device.
The MxL86x family of devices has banks of programmable channel select filters, and supports stacked outputs in excess of 32 channels in a static configuration or 24 channels in fully dynamic channel assignment mode. Its software environment includes a real-time operating system running on an embedded 32-bit CPU with a complete set of APIs to control the band translation and channel stacking engine and the chip interfaces.
Due to the devices’ high levels of system integration, the bill of material (BOM) in end applications is reduced to a minimal number of low-cost, passive components, which enables ultra-compact low cost system solutions when compared to existing analog solutions.
