STMicroelectronics has achieved EuroDOCSIS 2.0 certification for its reference design for Internet-connected cable set-top boxes. That means any set-top manufacturer building a product based on ST’s single-chip STB silicon is automatically on a fast track for EuroDOCSIS certification.
Thomson and ADB are both using the chip in customer premises equipment (CPE).
With the introduction of the chip (STi7141) in January 2009, ST claimed to be the first to integrate a DOCSIS cable modem and HDTV MPEG-4 decoder, creating a single chip supporting HDTV, interactive services, broadband Internet and DVR functions.
“The certification of the world’s first single-chip solution from STMicroelectronics will bring a whole new level of integration, along with interactivity in set-top boxes for cable operators,” said Malcolm Taylor, managing director of Cable Europe Labs. “This new approved platform will be a key enabler for new services blending Internet and traditional cable content.”
Georges Laplanche, senior vice president of the Connect Division at Thomson, said Thomson has completed the set-top box development and certification processes, has achieved EuroDOCSIS qualification, and will now start shipping to pilot cable MSOs as early as Q1 2010. He said boxes based on the new chip incorporate a channel-bonding DOCSIS modem and feature “remarkably low power consumption.”
Francois Pogodalla, CEO at Advanced Digital Broadcast, said, “We have been collaborating with ST for some time to integrate the STi7141 into our product roadmap, supporting various configurations such as MHP (Multimedia Home Platform) and OpenTV.”
The STB reference design, with supporting sample software, is available directly from STMicroelectronics to customers with an NDA. The STi7141 is in full production, in a 35mm x 35mm PBGA package, with pricing available on application.
