Digital dual-tuner improves radio reception in critical signal conditions

STMicroelectronics and Blaupunkt have come up with an interesting new solution for good old AM/FM car radio that makes a lot of sense. A newly developed dual-tuner receiver chipset uses sophisticated digital signal processing techniques to enable excellent reception quality while reducing interference even in presence of challenging signal conditions such as weak field and strong multipath (reflection from mountains and buildings). The advanced digital receiver integrates audio signal processing and Radio Data System (RDS) decoding, and hence delivers quality and system cost optimization suitable for high-end car radios. The solution tunes to all current analog radio services worldwide (AM, FM and US Weather band) as well as to the recently introduced digital broadcasts (Digital Audio Broadcasting, Digital Radio Mondiale, HD radio), providing suitable interfaces to external decoders. Samples of the chipset are available now and volume production is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.

The new chipset includes two TDA7528 Radio Frequency (RF) front-end ICs and one STA3005 Digital Signal Processor (DSP) back-end IC.

An advanced digital audio processor, powered by an ST's proprietary DSP core, greatly enhances the system's flexibility and efficiency meeting all the needs of in-vehicle sound processing and equalization. Additionally, an embedded ARM7 microcontroller supervises all the internal peripherals, reducing the workload and software complexity of the car radio's main microprocessor, and fully supporting RDS management -- a must-have of today's car-radios.