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Frontier Silicon announces Quantum DAB/CD/FM/MP3 audio reference platform

Quantum Will enable easy development of low-cost DAB products

London, UK - 9th October 2003 - Frontier Silicon, the fabless semiconductor business whose core products include system-on-chip (SoC) devices for digital TV, digital radio and other emerging consumer multimedia products, announces Quantum, a DAB/CD/FM and optional MP3 reference design which can be easily integrated by manufacturers and developers into a wide range of products including boom boxes, midi and micro systems.

Quantum uses the Frontier Silicon Venice FS2020 DAB module in conjunction with a Toshiba FM IC and MCU control IC to provide a fully featured audio system.

The platform has been developed by Shiba-Tech, a key Hong Kong design house for Toshiba ICs, in collaboration with Frontier Silicon, which provides the DAB solutions.

Says Anthony Sethill, CEO, Frontier Silicon: "The DAB market is rapidly expanding - already we have shipped over a quarter of a million DAB modules. Quantum will be a significant enabler of further growth in this market and we expect the first Quantum based products, including a 'boom box' system from Ministry of Sound, to be available by the end of the year."

Shiba-Tech sales manager Sunny Leung says: "Quantum is a major step in aiding the rapid development of simple, low cost CD/DAB products. Based on proven Frontier Silicon DAB and Toshiba IC technology solutions Quantum is the ideal base for manufacturers seeking to tap into the opportunities of this fast growing consumer market."

Quantum's user interface is simple and easy to use as the system integrates all the audio functions and utilises a single dot matrix LCD display. Control is via a key interface with optional jog-dial functionality. Infrared remote control is also supported.

Quantum is based on Frontier Silicon's Venice FS2020 DAB module, an optimised band III RF front end with Chorus FS1010 baseband processor module. FS1010 uses dynamic and static power management techniques including fully-static design, clock-gating and inactive period state minimisation for low power usage without compromising performance. The processor clock is generated by a PLL, which can be reprogrammed dynamically, enabling power consumption to be minimized for each application.

Venice provides outstanding DAB sensitivity of typically +3 dBm to -98 dBm (Band III, Modes I to IV). Adjacent channel sensitivity is typically 40 dB (Band III). The module supports fast tuning.

About Frontier Silicon

Operating at the frontiers of the digital revolution Frontier Silicon is a fabless semiconductor business whose core products include system-on-chip (SoC) devices and RF baseband modules for digital TV, digital radio and other emerging consumer multimedia products. Frontier's key customers include consumer electronic, automotive entertainment and PDA/mobile phone manufacturers.

Frontier DAB modules account for over 80% of DAB sales worldwide and its customers include brands such as PURE Digital, Goodmans, Bush, Ministry of Sound, Cambridge Audio, TEAC and Grundig. Frontier's Chorus DAB processor is based on intellectual property (IP) licensed from Imagination Technologies, a leader in SoC IP.

Contact

Anthony Sethill, CEO
Frontier Silicon
Tel: +44 (0) 1923 474200
Fax: +44 (0)1923 202251
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