audio/videoZONE Products for the week of January 26, 2004
Fairchild Semiconductor Says . . .
FMS6418A: Triple Video Driver With HD/SD Filtering
and Multiple Video Standards
Replaces Multiple-Component, Discrete Solutions for Significant
Board Space Savings
Fairchild Semiconductor announced the FMS6418A, a highly integrated, triple video driver that is selectable for High Definition (HD) or Standard Definition (SD) signal filtering. The FMS6418A is used to remove high frequency noise prior to digitizing the signal (anti-aliasing), or to remove artifacts introduced during D/A conversion in the encoder (reconstruction filtering) for either RGB or YUV signals. This unique product offers improved performance, flexibility, and lower parts count for advanced video applications, including HDTV monitors, cable and satellite set top boxes, DVD players, Personal Video Recorders (PVRs), Video on Demand (VoD), and audio/video receivers. The FMS6418A has triple 6th order filters with selectable 30 MHz (HD) or 8 MHz (SD) frequencies. It also offers -38 dB of stopband rejection at 74.25 MHz for HD and -55 dB at 27 MHz for SD applications. The FMS6418A provides performance exceeding that of competitive integrated devices, while offering cost and design advantages over discrete solutions that require multiple components.
The FMS6418A combines a 2:1 multiplexer on each filter channel, with filtering and output drive amplification on all three channels, to provide a complete video solution. All channels provide 6 dB gain, accept 1V ground referenced inputs, and drive AC coupled loads. "The FMS6418A is a versatile video filtering solution that can be used in a myriad of applications. This integrated part offers our customers the ability to reduce cost in their consumer devices," said Jeremy Tole, Fairchild's technical marketing manager for video products.
"The FMS6418A expands Fairchild's growing line of video products,
further solidifying Fairchild as a leading provider of video filter drivers
in the industry."
analogZONE Says...
This is a simplified version of the FMS6417, which received an analogZONE Product of the Year Award for 2003. That review can be used for details of the remaining part of the filter, which is the SD/HD triple-channel with a muxed 2:1 input.
Fairchild is still using video terminology which puts it to shame but this refined product is good competition in the very high volume market place that exists for this simplified version. This is very much reflected in the pricing which is about one-third of the more expensively-packaged (LQFP-32) FMS6417.
The only changed specification that I could see for this section is a reduction in diff phase/gain numbers which are, in any case, an absolutely worthless specification for component video channels.
Supply currents are, of course, lower for the FMS6418A with a typical 45 mA for the 3.3 V filter supply and another 45 mA typical for the 5.0 V output supply (no load.)
There is a lot more competition for this sort of part in the last couple of months but Fairchild's reputation and the pricing will continue to allow it to win sockets, particularly in DVD applications.
The FMS6418A in production in both SOIC-16 and TSSOP-14 priced at $0.94 ($0.84 tape and reel). A demo board is available.