STMicroelectronics' HD Radio Chipset Certification Heralds Next-Generation Car Audio and Infotainment

GENEVA, July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), one of the largest semiconductor suppliers to the Automotive Infotainment segment,(1) today announced that its HD Radio™ Technology chipset, embedded in the Alps Electric module, has been certified by iBiquity Digital Corporation for meeting comprehensive performance requirements.

iBiquity Digital certification parameters include sensitivity, acquisition time, audio quality verification, functional check and bit error rate testing. The cutting-edge device has already scored multiple design wins for both built-in and after-market HD Radio receiver installations and other car equipment manufacturers working with ST's chipset are expecting to get their certification shortly.

Developed by iBiquity, HD Radio Technology offers enhanced sound quality, more programming choice, and new wireless data services on existing FM and AM radio channels. The technology is gaining traction in the car market and has been adopted by a total of 13 automotive brands representing more than 70 vehicle lines to date.

ST's end-to-end solution combines the base-band receiver (STA680) with the RF front-end IC (TDA7706) and extends the functionality of HD Radio receivers with novel features that include Conditional Access Support and Dual Channel Application (HD Radio 1.5).

ST's chipset embeds a technology that allows broadcasters to offer pay-per-listen options and private channels for specific needs. The conditional access system scrambles the signal and entitles authorized receivers to decode it with a custom key.

Supporting HD Radio 1.5, the receiver is also able to simultaneously demodulate audio and data from two independent radio channels. Therefore, it is possible to receive audio content from one channel, while pulling traffic and weather information from another one at the same time.

"STMicroelectronics' industry-leading expertise in digital audio and car infotainment has played an instrumental role in the development of new-generation HD Radio chipsets," said Jeff Jury, Chief Operating Officer at iBiquity. "An important milestone, the pre-certification of ST-based module sets to accelerate the adoption of HD Radio technology, providing equipment manufacturers with an optimized, one-stop-shop solution for next-generation car-radio reception."

"Now that HD Radio Technology is picking up popularity in the automotive industry, car equipment manufacturers seek access to state-of-the-art and reliable silicon solutions," said Makoto Kawasaki,  Group Leader of RF Products, Alps Electric, a leading car equipment manufacturer. "ST's end-to-end offering, which integrates both the tuner and decoder parts, supports all the latest features of HD Radio and meets the strict automotive design and quality requirements."

With almost fifteen years at the forefront of digital radio technology, ST is currently the world's largest supplier of components for digital radio receivers, having shipped more than 50 million chips to date.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2009, the Company's net revenues were $8.51 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com. 

(1) iSuppli, Strategy Analytics, May 2010

Notes to Editors

The HD Radio Technology system was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in 2002 as the only system for digital AM and FM broadcasting in the U.S. Currently more than 2,000 radio stations are broadcasting primary signals in digital HD Radio technology, as a free service, available to more than 84% of the U.S. population.

According to iSuppli, the automotive HD Radio receiver market is set to grow fivefold over the next five years, from 1.3 million units in 2010 to 7 million in 2015.

Listeners with HD Radio receivers benefit from new multicast channels, crystal-clear reception, higher audio quality, and a variety of data services on the radio's display screen. Innovative features under development include real-time traffic reports, personal audio recording, or interactive e-commerce capabilities.

SOURCE STMicroelectronics