--- In [email protected], "captcurt2000" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Good Day: > > Just came across this recent chip set in EE TImes. It is capable from > 150kHz-1.9GHz (albeit not contiguous) > > It includes a rather complete front-end and zero IF I/Q output. > > Looks like this might be fun to play with--I've asked for more info on > dev kits, etc. The times article indicated that using these and some > of their other support items, they can implement a digital tv rcvr > frontend for $5.00 BOM. > > Seems quite interesting to me--anyone else seen development like this? > > Heres a link to a short overview. > > http://www.mirics.com/FlexiRF.php > > Cheers > > Curt > KU8L >
Mirics Semiconductor is small company, boutique-silicon company. Read www.thechilli.com/articles/markets/high-tech/H061_dueMirics.asp. They are looking for high volume customer ( > = 1 Million chips). I believe no chance to get samples or dev kit unless you are at large company. The tek is quite advanced , Silicon-Germanium ( probably from Jazz Semiconductor Foundry). Silicon-Germanium mobility is higher than pure Silicon ( maybe 3 times). The key point is "Silicon Tuner" , tuner without discrete L,R,C , everything on litography. They claims 3 chips partition is the optimum for radio systems , now ( 2008) , while other companies are in favour of 2 chip partition. Beside MSi001 poly-band RF tuner ( samples more then 1 year ago) they announced MSi2500 interface chip ( 2 ADC to read I/Q stream from MSi001 , DSP accelerator and USB chip ..but no spec or numbers so far ..) MSi3101 seems to be prototipe USB dongle . If BOM is $5 then $50-75 will be the price for such dongle. Why ? Because I can get from the local Supermarket $75 (euro 50) Analog/Digital TV USB dongle (CMOS Silicon Tuner based , like Xceive XC3028). Mirics products seems better , covers all bands , the chip has LNA optimized on each band. China Newstar Electronics (www.cdnse.com) have prototipe radio WR0608 Mirics based , platform designed for new DRM,DAB and old AM,FM mode. Production apparently didn't start. Francesco
