Micrel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today announced in concert with Zoran Corporation, the availability of a complete IP enabled DTV reference design. Based on Micrel's KSZ8851-16MLL single-port embedded Ethernet MAC-PHY controller chip and Zoran's SupraHD® 787 ATSC/NTSC processor, the reference design is a complete hardware and software solution enabling the rapid deployment of Internet-connected DTVs for OEM and ODM customers.
"Micrel's single chip network solution when working with Zoran's single chip DTV processor delivers a reference platform that enables a low power, high throughput networking solution for our customers," said Lih Chang, Product Marketing Director, Home Entertainment division at Zoran Corporation.
"Micrel worked closely with Zoran to create a reference design that meets stringent performance requirements for this demanding consumer application," noted Wiren Perera, Micrel's director of Ethernet. "Zoran's leadership position in the consumer electronics multimedia market makes it an ideal partner for Micrel to address the burgeoning demands of IP connected media devices."
The engineering teams at Micrel and Zoran focused on creating an optimized Internet Connected DTV reference design that allows OEMs and ODMs to ramp to production in a short period of time. The reference platform's hardware module supports the traditional video and audio interfaces, as well as three (3) HDMI 1.3 deep color ports. It also accepts VGA input from a personal computer, as well as six pairs of analog audio inputs. For the output interfaces, the reference hardware module can directly drive an LCD panel, with up to 10-bit color. Other outputs are L/R audio for its internal speakers and SPDIF for multi-channel output to an external audio receiver.
Micrel's KSZ8851-16MLL is one of the first Ethernet solutions on the market to combine a Fast Ethernet MAC-PHY with a generic bus host processor interface in a small package. The device is capable of achieving up to 80 Mbps throughput, enabling up to 4 HD streams, while operating at very low power. The device also features very high immunity and low emissions. Micrel offers networking devices qualified for a range of environments; commercial, industrial, automotive and extended temperature grades.
