NXP's UHF Transistor Breaks New Barrier for TV Broadcast Transmitters

(Product News, 4 Jun 2007)

NXP, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, today launched the BLF878, the world¡¯s first true 300W ultra-high frequency (UHF) transistor in High Voltage Generation 6 LDMOS. The new power transistor, the only solution on the market capable of delivering 300W over the full UHF band with outstanding linearity and ruggedness, is targeted at the TV transmitter/broadcast market. The industry is now trending towards increased output power to accommodate high-definition TV, with NXP¡¯s latest solution delivering unparalleled efficiency levels, broadcasters are able to significantly increase output power and lower capital expenditure at the same time.



Today¡¯s high-performance TV transmitters constitute serious investments, and broadcasters rightly seek to utilize the maximum power available in order to transmit the huge amounts of data necessary to beam DVB-T and DVB-H (digital video broadcasting) programming to our homes. The BLF878 UHF Power LDMOS transistor enables this, maximizing power output from available input and increasing efficiency to 55 per cent Constant Wave (CW) and 32% for digital broadcasting ¨C leading to huge cost savings for broadcasters. As no other competing product is capable of supporting the entire UHF band at 300W at the same performance, by using NXP¡¯s new solution, broadcasters can employ fewer components than previously needed to deliver this level of power, resulting in further savings.



¡°Manufacturers of broadcast equipment are under increasing pressure to deliver richer content to our screens, putting greater strain on transmitters with costs often spiraling out of control. Although our input is perhaps the smallest in actual size, the difference made to the bottom line is significant when you consider the expenditure involved¡± said Guido Bekkers, worldwide Marketing Manager, RF Power Broadcast & Microwave, NXP Semiconductors. ¡°By being the first to market with such a powerful solution, we have consolidated our position as the number one in the market, delivering yet another efficient, powerful and cost-effective solution to our growing customer base.¡±



NXP is the recognized leader in the world-wide UHF broadcast market. The BLF861A, its flagship product, was launched in late 2000 and has become the de facto industry standard. Current customers include the top five TV broadcast manufacturers. The BLF878 UHF Power LDMOS transistor is a highly robust solution, capable of withstanding the rigors of high-performance broadcast operations with a VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of 10:1.



NXP is also to introduce a new family of 50V High Voltage LDMOS transistors in the fourth quarter of 2007 aimed at the ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) market.

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