ANADIGICS Upconverter Enables New Digital CATV Applications

Designers of the newest digital cable-television (CATV) systems require next-generation devices to support their double-conversion set-top boxes, cable modems, and TV receiver tuners. ANADIGICS has responded by developing the ACU2109, a monolithic GaAs upconverter designed to support the latest 256 quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM) digital formats. This highly integrated, high performance upconverter provides the low phase noise required for 256-QAM digital transmission, enabling increased channel capacity for expanded modem, telephony, and CATV broadcast services.

256-QAM systems can contain four times as much signal intelligence than the previous 64-QAM generation. However, these 256-QAM applications require local oscillator (LO) phase noise that is better than what was required for the 64-QAM generation. The next-generation ACU2109 provides -89 dBc/Hz typical phase noise (as compared to the ANADIGICS ACU50752 which provides -84 typical phase noise for 64-QAM applications). Housed in a 16-lead SOIC package, this latest device also demonstrates a low noise figure (6.5 dB), high conversion gain (8.0 dB), and low power consumption (600 mW).

"While providing very low phase noise, this unique part integrates the upconverter functions required for a double-conversion tuner, including a gain block, local oscillator (LO), and balanced mixer," explains Martin Eggerts, Design Engineer. "With the level of integration and the repeatability offered by these GaAs devices, manufacturers can reduce component count and take advantage of the outstanding performance and repeatability afforded by GaAs processing."

ANADIGICS has been a key supplier to the CATV industry, supplying more than 1.5 million integrated circuits to major cable modem customers and over 40 million ICs for use in CATV set-top boxes, and distribution amplifiers. "Our commitment to remaining a major supplier to the CATV industry is demonstrated by our partnerships with industry-leading manufacturers," observes Ron Michels, ANADIGICS Vice President of Cable and Broadcast. "These relationships allow our designers to work with CATV modem designers, leveraging their expertise in GaAs devices in order to develop cutting-edge components that enable the latest CATV designs."

The low-cost ACU2109 joins a family of ANADIGICS upconverters compatible with the Multimedia Cable Network System (MCNS) interoperability standard. Their highly integrated designs allow manufacturers to save space, cost, and manufacturing time while improving product performance and reliability.

The ACU2109 is priced at $3.00 in quantities of 10,000 units.

The devices are manufactured at the company's state-of-the-art facility in New Jersey and are 100% RF tested before shipping. For additional information on this new product, contact ANADIGICS by phone: (908) 668-5000, or fax: (908) 668-5132.