Silicon Labs’ next-generation Si4790x tuner IC family delivers a new benchmark for car radio reception performance while delivering the lowest system cost. The Si4790x family also provides exceptional flexibility and scalability for Tier 1 automotive infotainment suppliers and aftermarket car radio makers worldwide.

The Si4790x family leverages Silicon Labs’ patented digital low-IF architecture and RF in CMOS technology pioneered more than 12 years ago. Silicon Labs introduced its first single-chip broadcast audio IC products nearly 10 years ago, redefining how AM/FM tuner ICs were designed into analog-intensive consumer electronics products by providing a highly integrated solution that reduced component count by more than 90 percent and board space by more than 60 percent.

The superior linearity of the Si4790x tuner’s integrated RF front-end, combined with comprehensive AM/FM firmware running on a high-performance on-chip radio DSP, sets a new bar for key automotive radio metrics such as sensitivity in weak signal environments, selectivity in the presence of blockers, and immunity to multipath fading and distortion.

To address today’s global market, the Si4790x tuner family supports all worldwide broadcast radio bands including AM/FM, longwave (LW), shortwave (SW), NOAA weather band, FM RDS decoding, and AM/FM HD Radio and DAB reception (Band-III and L-band).

Leveraging the Si4790x family, Tier 1 suppliers can make the most of their R&D investment across multiple product segments, from cost-effective single-tuner designs to premium multi-tuner systems, with one modular architecture. All tuner devices in the Si4790x family share the same application programming interface (API) allowing infotainment system developers to reuse the same software across different product lines and market segments.

The Si4790x tuners’ high level of single-chip integration enables developers to significantly reduce board space, the external bill of materials and overall system cost. The tuners integrate active loop-through buffers for all radio bands, eliminating external active splitters. Integrated active loop-through buffers greatly simplify the front-end RF design, further reducing cost.

“The Si4790x tuner ICs set a new standard of excellence for car broadcast reception and RF performance,” said James Stansberry, senior vice president and general manager of Silicon Labs’ Internet of Things and broadcast products.

“Designed to be a truly global automotive radio solution, the Si4790x family supports all leading broadcast standards worldwide, and our scalable architecture enables infotainment system suppliers to leverage their investments across multiple product lines ranging from entry-level car radios to cutting-edge multi-tuner, multi-antenna radios for premium vehicles.”