Sharp Develops Industry's Smallest Tuner Module for Mobile TVs in China

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Will Contribute to More Compact Mobile Equipment

Sharp Corporation (Tokyo:6753) has developed the VA3C5CZ933, a mobile TV tuner module that supports CMMB and features the industry’s smallest package size (9.0 x 9.0 x 1.7 mm). The device is intended for mobile equipment in the Chinese market, with mass production slated to begin in December 2008.

China’s efforts to provide digital mobile broadcast services intensified in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics, and broadcasts under the CMMB system, a standard advanced by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), began in 37 cities in July 2008, prior to holding the Olympic Games. By the end of this year, SARFT plans to expand CMMB network coverage to more than 300 additional cities.

This new tuner module takes full advantage of the high-density surface-mount technology that evolved out of Sharp’s experience in developing tuner modules for One-Seg, Japan’s terrestrial digital broadcast format. This new device features the industry’s smallest package size plus industry-leading energy efficiency, with a power consumption of just 93 mW*. It is being offered as a key device that will contribute to making mobile equipment more compact with higher levels of performance, particularly personal navigation devices (PND) and mobile TVs capable of receiving mobile broadcasts under the CMMB system.

Product name Tuner module for China’s CMMB-system mobile broadcasts
Model name VA3C5CZ933
Sample price (including tax) 20,000 yen
Samples available October 30, 2008
Start of volume production December 1, 2008
Monthly production capacity 500,000 units

Major Features

1. The industry’s smallest package size, measuring 9.0 x 9.0 x 1.7 mm.
2. Industry-leading energy efficiency (power consumption of 93 mW).

Specifications

Model name VA3C5CZ933
Receiving frequency spectrums UHF band: 470 to 798 MHz (8MHz)
Receiving sensitivity -98 dBm (QPSK, 1/2LDPC)
Interface SPI or SDIO (1 bit) (3.3V, clock 4MHz max.)
Supply voltage 1.8 V (RF), 1.2 V (OFDM core), 3.3V (I/O)
Power consumption 93 mW (typ. for single-channel video reception in time-slice mode)
Outside dimensions 9.0 x 9.0 x 1.7 mm

* Power consumption for single-channel video reception in time-slice mode.