“The increasing prevalence of integrated antenna systems in automobiles presents a number of design and technical challenges,” said Barry Koch, Managing Director of Microtune GmbH & Co., KG. “Our automotive customers are consistently demanding higher levels of integration combined with reduced costs and performance improvements. The MT1119 leverages our RF-IC and automotive market expertise to deliver a dedicated silicon product for highly compact multi-standard antenna systems. With its broad functionality and high performance, our new amplifier enables our customers to gain a competitive advantage in the market."
Designed for single-antenna configurations or multiple-antenna diversity systems, the MT1119 amplifies the car radio signal, compensating for the reduced performance of integrated antenna systems.
The MT1119, at 4 x4 millimeters, is part of Microtune’s family of automotive products developed specifically to meet the strict performance, qualification and manufacturing requirements of car makers and Tier-1 suppliers. The MT1120 antenna amplifier, another in the integrated-circuit component line, offers a solution for applications with higher AM performance requirements. Both provide the flexibility to support the varying automotive radio configurations, systems and specifications of worldwide car makers.
PERFORMANCE AND FLEXIBILITY
The MT1119 helps enable high-end radio system performance, particularly under adverse reception conditions, by implementing a number of important features:
- An extended frequency range to cover all AM bands, FM, HD-Radio™, DRM, and weather-band reception, supporting automotive radio systems across global markets;
- Improved sensitivity and performance under difficult signal conditions, such as those resulting from weak signals or overload, for achieving high-end AM/FM system performance;
- Sophisticated temperature compensation to support extended ambient temperature range from -40° to 115°C.
- Fully integrated RF level detector and PIN-diode driver for easy implementation of the AGC function for FM.
The MT1119 and MT1120 are qualified according to the requirements of the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) Q100, which are the automotive industry’s quality standards for integrated-circuit electronics. For more complete product descriptions of the MT1119 or MT1120 antenna amplifiers, please visit Microtune’s website.
MICROTUNE’S AUTOMOTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RF PORTFOLIO
In addition to its line of antenna amplifiers, Microtune also offers RF products for AM/FM, DAB and HD car radio and car TV systems. To read more about Microtune’s automotive products or to read its automotive White Papers, please visit the automotive section of the Company’s website. Mr. Koch offers a perspective on automotive market and technology trends in an interview that is also available online.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The MT1119 is available now and is priced at $1.80 in quantities of 10,000. To simplify evaluation and design, Microtune also offers an MT1119 Evaluation Board.
ABOUT MICROTUNE
Microtune, Inc. is a silicon and subsystems company that designs and markets radio frequency (RF) solutions for the worldwide broadband communications and transportation electronics markets. Inventor of the MicroTuner(TM) single-chip broadband tuner, Microtune offers a portfolio of advanced tuner, amplifier, and upconverter products that enable the delivery of information and entertainment across new classes of consumer and automotive entertainment electronics. The Company currently holds 81 U.S. patents for its technology. Founded in 1996, Microtune is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with key design and sales centers located around the world. The website is www.microtune.com.
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