SCIENCE

Frontier Silicon has announced its first digital radio receiver module specifically optimised for slave mode operation in a wide range of home audio products. Venice 9 has been designed for straightforward integration into mini and micro Hi-Fi systems, iPod docking systems, Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) and other home audio products. Venice 9 is fully WorldDMB Profile 1 compliant ensuring that it can be used in all countries that have adopted the Eureka-147 digital radio standard including UK, Germany, France, Australia, Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Venice 9 is based on the proven DAB/DAB+/DMB-Radio Kino 3 baseband chip and firmware from Frontier Silicon. Ideal for emerging DAB+, DMB-Radio and existing DAB markets, it provides enhanced receiver performance and low power consumption in a small footprint. The standard version supports Band III for DAB and Band II for FM/RDS, and a version which adds DAB in L Band is also available for markets where this frequency band is a requirement. It has an optional high fidelity on-board DAC for the analogue audio output or I2S digital audio output to give a high quality feed into the audio system of the product.

The integration of digital radio into the huge range of audio products on the market will become increasingly important following the recent announcement of the launch of a nationwide public service and commercial DAB+ service in Germany planned for launch in autumn 2011.

To help speed time to market Frontier Silicon also provides an evaluation and development board called Wolfsburg along with PC based user control software to emulate the host processor in an audio system. The host processor communicates with the Venice 9 using the Frontier Silicon Application Programming Interface (FSAPI) sending data and audio to and from the module.

“Digital radio listening is increasing rapidly in many markets driven by consumers wanting to listen to the exciting new digital radio only content and crystal clear audio on their HTiB and Hi-Fi systems” said Karen Parnell, Director of Product Marketing at Frontier Silicon “Venice 9 offers a cost effective way to integrate digital radio into a vast array of home audio products giving brands and ODMs a rapid route to providing their customers with digital radio”.

Venice 9 exceeds the requirements of the BS EN 55020 and BS EN 5942 specifications, thus ensuring the very best audio quality in both digital radio and FM analogue radio modes.

Frontier Silicon is the world’s leading supplier of integrated circuits and modules for digital audio receiver products and network audio products. Established in 2001 as a privately funded fabless semiconductor company, Frontier Silicon has over 140 employees worldwide. The company is based in London, England, with design centres in Cambridge, Hong Kong, China and Shannon. Frontier Silicon also has branch offices and technical support representation in France, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Japan. Products include complete solutions for digital audio systems including DAB, Internet radio and Network audio products, from silicon and modules through to software to unique production ready 3D platform designs.