Anadigics, Inc. has introducted an active splitter for multiple-tuner television and set-top box applications. The highly integrated 5 mm x 5 mm APS3604 replaces discrete low-noise amplifier (LNA) and splitter circuitry and provides three output paths supporting two- and three-tuner systems for signals up to 1.1 GHz. This high level of integration reduces the component count and PCB space requirements for advanced televisions with features such as picture-in-picture and for multiple tuner set-top boxes with personal video recording (PVR) and digital video recording (DVR) functionality.

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According to Anadigics, the new active splitter eliminates front-end gain control at the tuner and extends the input frequency range above 1 GHz to provide television and set-top box manufacturers with an integrated, high performance product that reduces component count and PCB space requirements. The APS3604 amplifies a balanced RF input signal in the 50 MHz to 1.1 GHz frequency range using highly linear, low-noise amplification stages and splits the signal into three balanced outputs. Independent gain control in each path eliminates the need for front-end gain control in tuners that follow the APS3604 in the receiver chain. The overall linearity of each tuner path is maintained across a wide gain control range, ensuring low distortion on each independently controlled output signal. It provides noise figure of 4.8 dB at maximum gain and requires only a single +5 V power supply.

The APS3604 is priced at $3.90 in quantities of 1000 units. Samples are available now.