Tokyo, Japan, May 13, 2002 - Sony Corporation today announced the commercialization of a television tuner demodulation module that realizes demodulation for analog and digital broadcast on demodulation software installed in common hardware. From May 2002 Sony will begin sample shipment of the new television tuner module [BTD-UB451 Series] that is compatible with the following broadcasting standards currently available in the U.S. and South Korea: NTSC-M for terrestrial and analog broadcast, VSB for digital terrestrial broadcast and QAM for digital cable television.

The recent start of digital broadcast has accelerated improvements in broadcasting services and a more efficient use of broadcast frequencies. At the same time a broadcast environment where people can receive and view a variety of visual content in addition to conventional analog broadcast has been established around the world. However, in order to receive both analog and digital broadcast, it is necessary to incorporate television tuner circuits in the television set to receive the respective broadcast modulation formats. This prevents TV manufactures from reducing the cost of device parts, shrinking hardware space and lowering power consumption. Sony has developed the [BTD-UB451 Series] television tuner demodulation modules based on a system of a common hardware platform and a variety of demodulation software to allow flexible demodulation between a wide range of television broadcasting formats. Implementation of the new television tuner demodulation module [BTD-UB451Series] will enable miniaturization of the demodulation tuner, a reduction in manufacturing costs and lower power consumption.

The television tuner demodulation module [BTD-UB451 Series] consists of a high frequency device (RF block) that selects and amplifies certain channel signal among the television signal received from an antenna and a demodulator converting selected and amplified signals into base band signal. By adopting Sony's original and sophisticated circuit design along with the newly developed intermediate frequency amplification IC, the high frequency device is made compatible with the complicated specifications required for receiving each television broadcast signal. It is therefore able to deal with a variety of technological difficulties such as the high sensitivity for terrestrial broadcast, the elimination of interference caused by the mixing of a number of television channels on cable broadcast, and the reduction in phase noise on digital broadcast. The modulator with a newly developed DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for demodulation can accommodate various modulations formats for both analog and digital broadcast by switching between the demodulation software.

The [BTD-UB451 Series] is compatible with modulation formats available in the U.S. that initially introduced digital television broadcast and South Korea that is aggressively promoting IT technologies. Sony will continue to work towards being able to offer a TV tuner demodulation module for the European market that can flexibly switch between different TV systems available in various European countries and regions. Sony will also work to develop a "Universal Front End" demodulating television tuner module which can flexibly respond to a wide range of broadcasting standards, including satellite broadcast, terrestrial broadcast, cable television and analog and digital modulation formats. While striving for more efficient tuner design and greater cost reduction, Sony hopes to aggressively develop the key device products that are essential for allowing customers to enjoy a variety of broadcast formats on a television or PC.

Key Characteristics

1. Accommodates a variety of modulation formats.
   Sony has developed DSP for demodulation. By switching demodulation software, it is possible to accommodate various modulation formats in one hardware device. The [BTD-UB451 Series] provides demodulation software for analog broadcasting (NTSC-M) and digital broadcasting (8VBS modulation and QAM).
2. Superior reception performance
   The [BTD-UB451 series] digitally demodulates input broadcasting signal. Reception performance is similar or superior to conventional analog demodulation. Video S/N of analog broadcast (NTSC-M) is over 48 dB, and the minimum input sensitivity of terrestrial digital broadcasting (8VSB modulation) is -80dBm or less.
3. Enabling reduced product size and lower power consumption
   The [BTD-UB451 Series] accommodates multiple modulation formats on the same hardware dimension and uses the same power consumption as a conventional Sony demodulation television tuner. It will therefore allow smaller size tuner circuits and lower power consumption.

Key Specifications

• Customer Inquiries (Domestic and International)
  • Sony Chemical Corporation SIP Div. MDM Dept. Sales Section
  • TEL:+81-(0)3-5435-3949
  • FAX:+81-(0)3-5435-3076
  • E-mail: MasayukiA.Takahashi@jp.sony.com