Micronas Creates Industry’s First Fully Integrated Hybrid TV PCIe Solution (0709)

PCIe TV processor pushes decoder integration to the next level and into mainstream PC-TV markets

Santa Clara, CA – May 15, 2007 – Micronas (Zurich, Switzerland, SWX Swiss Exchange: MASN), a leading supplier of innovative, application-specific IC system solutions for consumer electronics, today announced the availability of the APB 71x6/8I ATSC / QAM-256 and DVB-T hybrid PC-TV PCIe processors. The new chips provide leading-edge functionality and performance when compared to existing TV processors that offer either digital or analog capability.

“Microsoft is pleased that Micronas is participating in WinHEC this year,” said Dave Wascha, director of Windows Client Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “It is technology advancements like Micronas’ that help pave the way for innovation on the Windows platform and in the industry.”

Micronas’ comprehensive IP library of field-proven cores like ATSC / QAM, DVB-T, PCIe, and audio-video decoding with 3D comb filter option, enables integration and lowers the system BOM while accelerating time-to-market. The chip is ideal for TV integration into notebooks, desktops, and PC-based consumer devices such as Set Top Boxes (STBs) and Personal Video Recorders (PVRs). The small form factor 19x19 mm2 BGA package and low power consumption make it the ideal solution for ExpressCard and Mini Card applications.

The parts achieve the lowest power consumption as well as the smallest form factor in the industry and are expandable to a dual-channel configuration via an extra set of digital audio and video input interfaces. All versions are supported by Micronas’ driver binaries for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Linux. The dual functionality of the APB 71x6/8I helps customers enable state-of-the-art performance, video quality, and system cost savings.

“Micronas is proud to present its latest nGene PCIe controller family member, offering analog and digital TV integration for the North American and European markets,” said Kai Scheffer, Director Marketing PC at Micronas. “With immediate availability of reference designs for notebooks and desktops, Micronas has lowered the barrier for ODMs to add cost-effective TV tuner support to mass-market PCs shipping this year.”

MicViper® 1H-MC is the reference design for notebook computers, integrating a complete hybrid PC-TV receiver in a Mini Card form factor. The reference design, for the US market, is capable of free-to-air ATSC, QAM and analog content reception. A future upgrade is planned for the European market.

MicViper/MicPython 1H-X is a PCIe x1 half-height add-in card reference design for desktop computers, integrating a complete hybrid PC-TV receiver. It offers the following options, making it the design choice for mainstream Media Center applications:

• APB 7106I: Hybrid DVB-T with PAL/NTSC 3D Comb
• APB 7116I: Hybrid DVB-T
• APB 7108I: Hybrid ATSC/QAM with PAL/NTSC 3D Comb
• APB 7118I: Hybrid ATSC/QAM

All versions are pin compatible and are housed in an LFBGA-324 19x19 mm² package.

The initial demonstration of the Micronas APB 71x6/8I will occur at the Micronas booth #527 at Microsoft WinHEC 2007 in Los Angeles on May 14, 2007.