Alps Develops "TDA Series" - TV Tuner for Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Alps Electric have developed new TV tuners for terrestrial digital broadcasting – “TDA Series” – which are compatible in common casing with both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting for Europe and North America. Shipment of samples commenced this March. In addition, we also prepared products for digital cable TV for China, Europe and other areas in this series.

Terrestrial digital broadcasting is starting all over the world. However, we are now in the switchover period from terrestrial analog to terrestrial digital broadcasting. So in some areas only terrestrial analog broadcasting is still provided. That being the case, a set product which is compatible with both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting or one which meets broadcasting conditions in each destination was essential to develop.

We used to build plural numbers of tuners which were individually compatible with terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting into a set product. However this posed some problems in design flexibility and cost.

And for end-user convenience, it would be ideal to keep watching TV without having to change TV sets or attach other equipment when the area of residence switches to terrestrial digital broadcasting.

This series carries models that are compatible with both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting for each area in Europe and North America and models for digital cable TV broadcasting for China, Europe and other areas. All models come in one common casing realized through our original RF circuit technology and high-definition mounting technology.

Alps Electric realized a single casing size of 53x38x13mm (WxDxH) that allows compatibility with all broadcasting standards and configurations in Europe, North America and China. Mounting a tuner which meets standards of each area contributes to design flexibility for set makers who develop set products in common global designs.

Improvements in the airtightness rate of the casing, restrains tuner noise and improves resistance against noise caused by other parts built into the set product.

Tuners which are compatible with both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting for Europe and North America suffer from the problem of noise in the tuner deteriorating the reception quality of the terrestrial analog broadcasting. So, to overcome this weakness, we built the original circuit into the tuner to reduce tuner noise and to realize higher reception quality for the terrestrial analog broadcasting.

Features

Newly developed TV tuner “TDA Series” for terrestrial digital broadcasting – one casing can receive both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting.

  1. One casing can receive both terrestrial digital and analog broadcasting.
  2. Contributes to more design flexibility for set makers through rich variety.
  3. Realizes noise release prevention and high noise resistance against other parts.
  4. Reduces noise in the tuner through building-in the specific circuit, and improves reception quality for the terrestrial analog broadcasting.

Principal Applications

Flat panel TVs, set-top boxes, DVD recorders, etc.

Sales Plan

Sample Shipment Start From March 2008
Sample Price ¥5,250 (tax included)
Monthly Production 400,000 units (plan for April, 2008)
Development Communication Devices Division,
Soma Plant (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Production Communication Devices Division,
Soma Plant (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Specifications

Destinations Europe North America China, Europe
& Others
Product Names TDAD
Series
TDAG
Series
TDAU
Series
TDAE
Series
Dimensions
(W x D x H)
53.0mm x 38.0mm x 13.0mm
Demodulation Format DVB-T DVB-T &
Analog
ATSC ATSC & NTSC DVB-C
Input Frequency Range UHF 470 to 862MHz UHF 366 to 862MHz UHF 378 to 864MHz UHF 366 to 862MHz
VHF 174 to 230MHz VHF 47 to 366MHz VHF 54 to 378MHz VHF 47 to 366MHz
Output Center Frequency 36.1666MHz 44.0MHz 36.125MHz
IF Band Width 7MHz, 8MHz 6MHz 8MHz
Configurations Vertical Horizontal
/side *
Horizontal
/roof top
Vertical Horizontal
/side *
Horizontal
/roof top
Vertical Horizontal
/side *
Loop Through â—‹ â—‹ â—‹ â—‹ â—‹ â—‹
Supply Voltage 5V Single power supply
Tuning Control Bus I2C

* Horizontal/side type is available in attaching the antenna terminal on both right and left sides.