OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2011. Sony Corporation today announced the commercialization of the world’s first*1 demodulator LSI conforming to the DVB-C2*2 (Digital Video Broadcasting - Cable 2) digital cable TV broadcast standard, which is the next-generation standard improved from the current DVB-C*3 digital cable TV broadcast standard adopted in Europe and various other countries and regions around the world.

Demodulator LSIs:
“CXD2835ER” (left), “CXD2836ER” (right)

Model name Shipment date Sample price
Demodulator LSI “CXD2835ER”
 for DVB-C/C2 November, 2011 5,000 yen
Demodulator LSI “CXD2836ER”
 for DVB-C/C2/T/T2 December, 2011 7,500 yen

DVB-C2 is a next-generation standard which significantly increases data transmission capacity and optimizes use of the transmission channel to enable multichannel and high quality HD broadcasting. DVB-C2 adopts a multi-level modulation which is 16 times as dense as DVB-C and tolerance against reflections and interference caused within a cable network is required. Sony’s new DVB-C2 demodulator LSI incorporates Sony’s proprietary reception algorithms and error correction technology to achieve stable and highly sensitive reception, while also reducing power consumption and realizing package miniaturization by reducing the number of pins.

 “CXD2835ER” is also compatible with the current DVB-C standard, while “CXD2836ER” is also compatible with current DVB-C, DVB-T*4 and DVB-T2*5 standards. As the DVB-C2 standard spreads, compatibility with current standards will enable flexible hardware design, while also contributing to miniaturization and a reduction in the number of components.

   Sony will actively promote this new LSI to manufacturers of TVs, set top boxes and other applicable products targeting Europe and other regions where DVB-C2 is expected to expand.
*1 Based on Sony research (as of September, 2011)
*2 DVB-C2: Second generation digital cable TV broadcast standard “ETSI EN302 769”. This is the improved version of the first generation DVB-C standard. Digital audio and video signals are transmitted using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation. Adopting 1024/4096QAM and LDPC forward error correction scheme improves the transmission efficiency by approximately 60% compared with DVB-C.
*3 DVB-C: First generation digital cable broadcast standard “ETSI EN300 429”. This standard has been adopted in various countries and regions around the world including Europe. Digital audio and video signals are transmitted using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) digital modulation.
*4 DVB-T: First generation digital terrestrial broadcast standard “ETSI EN300 744”. This standard has been adopted in various countries and regions around the world including Europe. Digital audio and video signals are transmitted using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation.
*5 DVB-T2: Second generation digital terrestrial broadcast standard “ETSI EN302 755”. This is the improved version of the first generation DVB-T standard. Digital audio and video signals are transmitted using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation. Adopting a time interleaver and LDPC forward error correction scheme improves the transmission efficiency by approximately 50% compared with DVB-T.
Main features
-
The world’s first*1 demodulator LSI for DVB-C2 (1024QAM/4096QAM capable).
-
Sony’s proprietary reception algorithms and error correction technology ensure high sensitivity and stable reception (32.1dB CNR for 1024QAM, code rate 9/10 ).
-
Low power consumption of 360mW (typical for 4096QAM, code rate 9/10).
-
“CXD2835ER” is also compatible with the current DVB-C standard, while “CXD2836ER” is also compatible with the current DVB-C, DVB-T*4 and DVB-T2*5 standards. As the DVB-C2 standard spreads, compatibility with current standards will enable flexible hardware design, while also contributing to miniaturization and a reduction in the number of components.
-
Same package and pin assignment for “CXD2835ER” and “CXD2836ER” enables drop-in replacement of the demodulator LSI on the same printed-circuit board depending on required broadcast standards (DVB-C/C2 and DVB-C/C2/T/T2).
(Also package and pin-compatible with “CXD2834ER” for DVB-T/T2/C).