LG Innotek Adopts Fresco Microchip's Universal Demodulator

Fresco’s Flagship Technology Powers Industry’s First Global Hybrid Tuner Modules

TORONTO — Fresco Microchip Inc., a developer of leading edge RF, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing integrated circuits (ICs), today announced that LG Innotek, a leading manufacturer of digital media and consumer electronics, has selected Fresco’s universal analog demodulator and digital IF processor IC for its new global hybrid (analog + digital) tuner modules, including the popular TDTJ and TDFR series.

“In 2008, 562 million TV tuners shipped in televisions, set-top-boxes and recorder platforms,” said Takayuki Maruhashi, assistant director, Techno Systems Research (TSR). “As a global force in consumer electronics, LG Innotek is the largest tuner module manufacturer in the world.”

Integrating Fresco’s technology enables LG Innotek to significantly streamline the supply chain by offering a global tuner module for all hybrid markets, no longer requiring multiple tuner modules for each regional market without compromising performance. The tuners support universal analog (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) and multi-standard digital (DVB, ATSC) audio/video for all major hybrid cable and terrestrial television markets.

“By adopting Fresco’s innovative chip technology, LG Innotek continues to lead the way in cutting-edge solutions for next-generation televisions,” said Gil-sang Park, vice president, LG Innotek. “In another industry first for LG Innotek, our latest tuner modules provide TV manufacturers with a universal hybrid tuner for all markets.”

Fresco’s hybrid demodulators are the industry’s first single-chip solutions to deliver fully integrated universal legacy audio/video demodulation (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) and multi-standard digital IF processing. The chips set a new benchmark for lowering the system solution cost across the product life cycle from design through production. Using the company’s iSAW™ technology, the Fresco’s ICs eliminate multiple external components, 6/7/8MHz higher-profile SAW filters and several amplifiers.

Fresco’s hybrid demodulators elevate the standard for television performance by leveraging the company’s innovative agileSP™ architecture to eliminate historical tradeoffs between picture quality (such as color brightness and image sharpness) and immunity to broadcasts from adjacent channels. The chips offer extended smearing and ringing reduction for the highest possible visual clarity. Fresco’s technology delivers industry-leading adjacent channel rejection, which enables more robust, improved television reception with greater coverage throughout the home.

“We are excited that LG Innotek has selected our hybrid demodulator,” said Lance Greggain, CEO, president and co-founder of Fresco Microchip. “LG Innotek’s latest tuners showcase their reputation as a leader for integrating the world’s most advanced technology.”