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One of the biggest problems in integrating TV into a cell phone or other small mobile device is the need for an external antenna. An expandable whip is preferred, but who wants that? Now MaxLinear has a solution to that problem: the MxL751SM, a high-performance single-chip diversity tuner and ISDB-T 1-Segment (1-Seg) demodulator for mobile and portable TV applications (See the figure).

Most mobile TV designs have an external whip antenna to improve reception in urban or high-speed environments caused by multipath reflections, coverage gaps, and Doppler effects. These external antennas are expensive, break easily, and prevent the handset from being waterproofed. Manufacturers have also tried using a single internal antenna, but that caused a loss of sensitivity within the device and required costly, complicated design workarounds.

With dual RF inputs, a diversity combiner, and 1-Seg demodulator, the MxL751SM is designed to deliver the sensitivity required to meet these challenges. This new chip’s portable designs have improved reception while using less sensitive and more cost effective dual internal antennas. This reduces system costs and failure rates. Dynamic switching between diversity and single-channel modes is built into the device, and all channel filtering is integrated along with providing digital carrier and timing recovery.

The MaxLinear MxL751M’s dual RF inputs bring diversity reception to the solution of the antenna problem plaguing those wishing to embed TV in cell phones and other portable devices.

The MxL751SM measures only 3.5 by 3.5 mm in a 44-pin wafter-level chip-scale package (WLCSP) and features low power consumption through its smart diversity switching, consuming as little as 50 mW. It supports a tuning range of 470 to 806 MHz, making it appropriate for mobile devices targeted at Japanese and South American (Brazil) markets. These devices include handsets, portable video devices, personal navigation devices, handheld gaming consoles, and netbooks.

The tuner builds on MaxLinear’s MxL7002 and MxL703 tuners, and it is the company’s first mobile TV SoC to include an integrated demodulator. It is now available for sampling by key customers.