Silicon Laboratories Inc. has released a highly integrated FM transmitter family offering superior audio performance in a small 20-pin QFN package. By reducing the bill of materials and power consumption of existing solutions, the Si471x FM transmitter family allows customers to cost-effectively add wireless FM audio playback capability to any portable media device including cell phones, MP3/digital media players, navigation/GPS devices and satellite radios.

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The Si471x FM transmitter family leverages Silicon Laboratories' digital architecture to provide integration and high-quality sound fidelity. This architecture improves the stability of volume output on the receiving system and through unique audio dynamic range control, increases
delivered audio fidelity of the transmitting system. The result is a higher fidelity music experience for the end user and a simplified design for the manufacturer. The Si4711 FM transmitter supports Radio Data Service (RDS) and Radio Broadcast Data Service (RBDS), enabling the display of the artist and song title on an RDS/RBDS-enabled FM receiver.

It requires only two external components and is implemented in 15 mm2 of printed circuit board area. Current consumption is about one-third less than competing solutions, resulting in a 33% increase in battery life. In addition, programmable power scaling allows users to comply with both U.S. FCC and pending European Union transmitted power regulations with a single implementation.

The FM transmitter function easily coexists with active cellular networks as well as GPS, WLAN, Bluetooth and other wireless transmitters due to integrated on-chip filtering, reducing noise and harmonics. Complete programmability enables one hardware solution to ship globally.

The Si4710 is sampling now to lead customers. Pricing for the Si4710 begins at $3.91 in quantities of 10,000. Pricing for the Si4711, which samples in January 2007 and supports RDS/RBDS transmission, begins at $4.69 in quantities of 10,000. A Si4710 evaluation board is available for $250.