MxL NewsCenter

News, stories, and profiles from MaxLinear

Press Releases

MaxLinear Brings Full-Spectrum Capture™ Technology to Six- And Eight-Channel Video Gateways and Set-top Boxes

May 22, 2012
  • MxL258 and MxL256 are New Additions to Full-Spectrum Capture™ Product Family; Technology Captures Full 1 GHz Cable Spectrum | Devices Reduce Complexity of Cable Video Gateway Front-ends, and Feature Industry's Lowest Power Consumption of 225 Milliwatts Per Channel

MaxLinear Inc., (NYSE: MXL) a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, today announced two new front-end receivers that utilize the company’s Full-Spectrum Capture (FSCTM) technology for cable video gateway applications and set-top boxes (STB).

The single-chip MxL258 and MxL256 are eight-channel and six-channel digital cable front-end receivers, respectively, with on-chip QAM demodulators. Both ICs are fabricated in a standard 40nm digital CMOS process. The devices are part of the FSCTM product family including the 16-channel MxL265 and 24-channel MxL267 receivers that were announced in March 2012.

By capturing the full 1 Gigahertz (GHz) cable spectrum, both the MxL258 and MxL256 FSC receivers enable cable operators to deploy next-generation home media gateways, which support richer and more compelling multi-channel video services.

“The video gateway market is rapidly evolving as cable providers launch new systems with an expanded number of channels for DVR and enhanced OTT and in-home wireless video distribution services,” said Brian Sprague, MaxLinear’s Vice President and General Manager for Broadband and Consumer Products. “Our advanced-technology MxL258 and MxL256 ICs offer these video gateway systems low power and small form factor multi-channel receiver solutions that enable better video tuning performance, thanks to our FSC technology.”

The MxL258 and MxL256 devices are capable of simultaneously receiving any combination of eight or six channels, respectively, located arbitrarily in the cable spectrum. As a result, MaxLinear's FSC cable receivers significantly reduce the power consumption in a gateway or a set-top box, minimize PCB footprint, eliminate expensive external RF components, and greatly simplify the design of customer platforms requiring multiple channel access.

Technical Highlights

Both MxL258 and MxL256 products offer a monolithic digital cable front-end in 40nm CMOS technology with integrated LNA and signal conditioning functions, delivering Full-Spectrum Capture capabilities. In full eight-channel mode of operation, the MxL258 consumes only 1.8 Watts, a 60 percent reduction in per channel power consumption compared to the previous generation of similar MaxLinear devices.

The extremely low power consumption of these devices eliminates the need for expensive heat removal components such as fans, heat shields and heat sinks inside CPE platforms. Both devices have an integrated narrow-band single-channel tuner for ultra-low power operation mode.

The low power consumption and the power control flexibility of MaxLinear's Full-Spectrum Capture devices enable compliance with the requirements of Energy Star, and the European Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services and Broadband Equipment for both standby and operating modes. Both solutions exceed the stringent performance requirements of SCTE40 for cable video applications.

The combination of our FSC technology and enhancements to the integrated QAM demodulators enables fast channel change implementations in video systems.

The MxL258 and the MxL256 devices are pin-to-pin compatible in a 9mm x 9mm QFN package. The output interface consists of eight or six serial transport streams with a single MPEG clock out.

Both devices offer a separate, dedicated out-of-band (OOB) demodulator integrated on-chip. The CRX, DRX output signals from the OOB demodulator can be directly connected to a CableCard™. Additionally, an SCTE55-1 and 55-2 FEC decoder is implemented, with transport stream output interface.

Availability

Customer samples of the MxL258 and MxL256 are available now with volume production in Q3 2012. Contact MaxLinear for ordering information.

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband communication applications. MaxLinear is located in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is www.maxlinear.com.

MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to MaxLinear’s MxL258 and MxL256 devices. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. MaxLinear’s expectations about the capabilities and adoption by OEMs may not be realized, and the market for the MxL258 and MxL256 may not develop as MaxLinear currently anticipates. MaxLinear cannot predict its future rates of revenue growth, if any, including whether or to the extent to which such new product introductions as the MxL258 and MxL256 may affect future revenue. MaxLinear’s business, revenues, and operating results are and will be subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including (among others) uncertainties concerning how end user markets for its products will develop; its dependence on a limited number of customers for a substantial portion of revenues; its ability to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis; and potential decreases in average selling prices for its products. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our most recent Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.