Mirics Semiconductor and Shanghai High Definition Digital Technology Industrial have partnered to develop high-definition digital TV technology for use in portable devices.
The technology will be based on the the Digital Television Terrestrial Broadcast (DTTB) standard, which became the mandatory digital terrestrial TV standard for Chinese broadcasters in 2007.
"All terrestrial TV receivers must comply with DTTB ahead of 2015 when analogue TV broadcasts will cease in China," said the companies.
Mirics and HDIC are developing reference platforms targeting DTTB-enabled personal computer platforms such as netbook and All-in-One (AIO) PC, and these solutions will integrate Mirics’ FlexiRF tuner technology and HDIC’s low power HD/SD dual-mode demodulators.
The companies believe that netbook PCs are well-suited to support reception of digital terrestrial TV.
DTTB supports both standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) transmission modes, and free-to-air SD and HD content is already available in key Chinese cities, with major DTTB infrastructure build-out continuing across China.
“By pairing Mirics’ FlexiRF tuners with HDIC’s dual-mode DTTB demodulators, mobile PC users in China will soon be able to enjoy a remarkable high-definition TV viewing experience currently only available on home TV screens,” said Simon Atkinson, CEO, Mirics.
See: Q5 Interview - Simon Atkinson, Mirics Semiconductor
Dr. Jun Sun, CEO, HDIC said that by using low power demodulators will enable the company to address the "considerable potential in the portable and AIO PC segments.”
According to ABI Research, in 2009, global netbook shipments could reach almost 35 million units.