[SatNews] Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM) has announced two new 28 nanometer (nm) direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems-on-a-chip (SoCs).
Engineered with second generation digital video broadcasting (DVB-S2) technology and integrated Full Band Capture, Broadcom’s BCM4548 for home gateways and BCM4562 for headless SAT > IP applications provide global operators with two powerful new devices for increasing HDTV and interactive services for subscribers around the world.
BCM4562 for Satellite TV Delivery to Any IP-Enabled Client Multimedia Device
Broadcom’s new SAT > IP SoC, designed for headless SAT > IP applications, distributes satellite-broadcasted content to in-home IP-connected STBs and smart TVs using industry connectivity standards. By integrating two Full Band Capture tuners and eight DVB-S2 demodulators, the new BCM4562 device supports industry standard software, conditional access and digital rights management (DRM) technologies, and can receive satellite signals and distribute them as internet protocol (IP) content. This allows anyone with an IP-enabled client multimedia device such as a smartphone, tablet, gaming console or smart TV to watch satellite-broadcasted content on any screen in the home.
In addition to integrating two Full Band Capture tuners and eight DVB-S2 demodulators, the new BCM4562 device is engineered to provide advanced security with conditional access termination on-chip, ensuring that all distributed content remains protected by DRM throughout the home. Broadcom’s new SAT > IP SoC is also PHY-agnostic, interfacing with all connectivity standards that consumers use to connect to content via the internet or TV including GigE, MoCA 2.0, WiFi and PLC. The SoC integrates 1 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) 2.0, a PCI-Express interface for WiFi connectivity and RG-MII interface for adding powerline communications (PLC) adapters. Together, these features free up thin client set-top boxes (STB) to simply render video.
BCM4548 for Multi-Channel DVB-S2 Home Gateways
Broadcom’s BCM4548 is the world’s first 28nm SoC to enable multi-channel DVB-S2 gateways for satellite operators. By design, Broadcom’s BCM4548 single-chip engineering dramatically simplifies system design and cost by integrating DVB-S2 demodulators and replacing multiple discrete tuners with dual Full Band Capture tuners that digitize the entire 250-2350 MHz spectrum.
As Broadcom’s second generation satellite Full Band Capture device, the BCM4548 integrates improved Full Band Capture technology to provide a breakthrough in bandwidth scalability and flexibility using any available demodulator to tune to a frequency, removing narrowband ‘block’ tuner restrictions and resulting in a more efficient distribution of video streams and IP services to connected devices in the digital home. Additionally, Full Band Capture coupled with Broadcom’s FastRTV® technology provides consumers with fast channel change regardless of frequency. Remote diagnostics capabilities from Full Band Capture also save operators from expensive on-site customer visits.
Broadcom will demonstrate its 28nm satellite front-end devices at IBC 2013 from September 12-16, 2013 in RAI Amsterdam, booth #2.C36.
Additionally, Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM) has debuted two new industry-leading chipsets that enable operators and OEMs to rapidly introduce UltraHD subscriber hardware and content.
These new set-top box (STB) devices for satellite, cable and IP integrate support for the advanced high-efficiency video codec (HEVC) standard H.265 that will allow existing high-speed data networks to better use the higher throughput required by UltraHD content.
As UltraHD TV prices continue to fall, Broadcom’s new family of devices also provides OEMs and operators more options for end-point delivery of UltraHD/4k content. The HEVC chip offerings have been architected to support UltraHD/4k up to Main10 profile and up to 60 frames per second, and are designed to rapidly incorporate the latest HDMI 2.0 digital TV interface standard. By leveraging Broadcom’s advanced Trellis set-top box multi-application software framework with secure hardware sandboxing, platforms based on these new devices can facilitate rapid integration of new services through intelligent system partitioning and management.1
Broadcom’s new series of systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) includes the BCM7251 for multi-HD/UltraHD IP set-top boxes and the BCM7366 with a direct broadcast satellite Full Band Capture front-end receiver, as well as two corresponding MoCA 2.0-enabled STB SoCs for cable and satellite video gateways, the BCM7439 and BCM7376. The BCM7438 is also offered as an HEVC MoCA 2.0 companion IP client solution for use with MoCA 2.0 video gateways. When combined with Broadcom’s previously announced flagship UltraHD SoC, the BCM7445, this new series of leading-edge 28 nanometer (nm) process technology chips spans a full range of device capabilities, from a quad-core ARMv7 Brahma15-powered transcoding gateway to dual-core MoCA clients.
With Broadcom’s complete portfolio of HEVC-enabled devices, operators can now substantially cut the bandwidth required for video transmission, offer additional channels on IP, cable or satellite networks, and deliver these services to more locations throughout the home on managed or unmanaged devices. Service providers with limited broadband capacity, such as telecommunications companies deploying video over ADSL, or over-the-top providers, may also choose to leverage the higher bandwidth efficiency of the technology to expand their video subscriber footprint by deploying HEVC enabled set-top box gateways and/or clients.2
Featuring high-performance dual-core Brahma15 10000 DMIPs ARMv7 processors, 2180p60 or dual 1080p60 decode and transcode capabilities, Broadcom’s new portfolio of HEVC chipsets also integrate high-performance connectivity peripherals, such as USB 3.0, PCIe, Gigabit Ethernet and MoCA 2.0. Broadcom’s latest generation security core is included in all devices offering the highest level of platform security, content protection and DRM robustness. Industry-leading support for high speed DDR3 and DDR4 devices is included as well as dedicated interfaces to a range of Broadcom companion front end cable, DOCSIS, satellite and 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices. The BCM7251 and BCM7439 also incorporate a new feature called Dual Display, which enables presentation of two simultaneous video channels from the same set-top box via independent HDMI outputs and remote control devices.
Broadcom will demonstrate the BCM7251, BCM7438, BCM7439, and BCM7366 SoCs at IBC 2013 from September 12-16, 2013 in RAI Amsterdam, booth #2.C36. Broadcom’s BCM7445 and BCM3461 will also be demonstrated in DVB’s live transmission of UltraHD content at booth #1.D81.
