The Si4790x family utilizes a digital low-IF architecture and RF implemented in CMOS technology patented by Silicon Labs 12 years ago. Nearly 10 years ago, Silicon Labs launched the first single-chip broadcast audio IC, redefining how AM/FM tuner ICs are designed for analog-intensive consumer electronics by providing a highly integrated solution that reduced component count by more than 90% and board space by more than 60%. Silicon Labs has shipped over 1.2 billion “single-chip radio” ICs to date, and based on this technological capability, it has reaped the rewards of launching the Si4790x family, the industry’s most integrated automotive tuner IC.

The excellent linearity of the highly integrated RF front-end provided by the Si4790x tuner, combined with comprehensive AM/FM firmware running on a high-performance built-in radio DSP, has established a new standard for evaluating key automotive radio performance, such as reception sensitivity in low-power fields, selectivity in the presence of interference, and immunity to multipath fading and distortion.

According to IHS Automotive, global car sales reached nearly 83 million units in 2013 and are projected to exceed 85 million units in 2014. Many cars are equipped with sophisticated infotainment systems featuring multiple tuner ICs and antennas, supporting FM phase diversity reception, receiving the Radio Data System (RDS) for info-navigation systems, and supporting digital radio standards such as HD radio, which is widespread in the U.S. market, as well as the leading European standard, Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB). To meet the requirements of today's global market, the Si4790x tuner family supports all global broadcast radio bands, including AM/FM, long wave, short wave, the FM broadcast weather band operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), FM RDS decoding, AM/FM HD radio, and DAB reception (Band-III and L-band).

The highly scalable architecture of the Si4790x family targets the global automotive market and allows developers to optimize system configurations to meet the requirements of specific automotive OEMs worldwide. By utilizing the Si4790x family, Tier 1 suppliers can make the majority of their R&D investments across complex product domains—ranging from cost-effective single-tuner designs to premium multi-tuner systems—using a single modular architecture. All tuner devices in the Si4790x family use the same application programming interface (API), enabling infotainment system developers to reuse the same software across different product lines and market segments.

The Si4790x tuner offers excellent high integration on a single chip, allowing developers to significantly reduce board space, external BOM, and overall system costs. The tuner integrates an active loop-through buffer across all radio bands, eliminating the need for an external active splitter. The integrated active loop-through buffer significantly simplifies front-end RF design and further reduces costs.

James Stansberry, Senior Vice President and General Manager of IoT and Broadcast Products at Silicon Labs, said, “The Si4790x tuner ICs have established a new standard for excellence in automotive broadcast reception and RF performance. The Si4790x family is perfectly designed for global automotive radio solutions and supports all leading broadcast standards worldwide. Our highly scalable architecture enables infotainment system suppliers to invest in a complex product line ranging from basic automotive radio functions to state-of-the-art multi-tuners and multi-antenna radios for premium vehicles.”

Price and supply

Samples of the Si4790x automotive tuner IC are currently available. To accelerate the development of Si4790x-based systems, the Si4791-3T1A-EVB evaluation kit is available for $1,495. For Si4790x product pricing, please contact your local Silicon Labs sales office or distributor. Additional product information can be found at www.silabs.com/pr/automotive-tuner.