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PMC-Sierra Introduces Stand-Alone VDSL2 Analog Front End Device for Triple-Play and IPTV-Enabled Broadband Customer Premises Equipment

Posted on: Tuesday, 30 May 2006, 06:00 CDT

PMC-Sierra's PM4380 Device Enables OEMs to Provide VDSL2 Residential Gateways and Modems with Breakthrough Rate/Reach Performance Characteristics

PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today introduced the PM4380 Analog Front End (AFE) for VDSL2 and ADSL2+ Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The highly integrated CMOS device is a stand-alone VDSL2 AFE, enabling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to quickly bring to market VDSL2 modem or residential gateway products. VDSL2 technology allows Service Providers to offer significantly faster and more robust broadband connections to support the deployment of IPTV and other advanced IP services.

By tackling the difficult mixed-signal challenges inherent to the design of such an AFE, PMC-Sierra enables new entrants into the rapidly expanding VDSL2 CPE market. The AFE features:

-- Extended rate/reach;

-- Full backwards compatibility to ADSL2+;

-- High integration, eliminating the need for a discrete line driver and external power supply and clock components, thereby reducing BOM costs and real estate; and

-- ADSL2+/VDSL2 Interface Specification (AVIS) flexible digital interface, which reduces pin-count and provides compatibility with a wide range of xDSL Discrete Multitone (DMT) processors.

Superior Performance Accelerates New Service Offerings

The PM4380 integrates a high-performance 5V line driver and offers extremely low transmit path distortion and noise floor. The receive path, including the integrated ultra-low noise amplifier, provides an input-referred noise density of -150dBm/Hz, while high-precision 16-bit data converters offer best-in-class performance on both receive and transmit chains. The low transmit and receive noise floors, combined with high-resolution data converters and integrated programmable receive equalizer and filters, reduce the need for complex and costly external filters to achieve optimum rate/reach performance. In addition, the device integrates a 16-bit digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO) that provides better than 0.02 ppm frequency resolution, and an optional 1.8V regulator that allows the PM4380 to be used in a system that only provides 3.3V and 5V. By offering this leading-edge performance, the PM4380 device enables OEMs to deliver products that provide faster broadband connections over longer loop lengths.

"PMC-Sierra has a strong history in developing leading-edge mixed-signal CMOS products for communications applications, and we have capitalized on this expertise to bring to market a leading-edge family of robust DSL AFEs," said Dino Bekis, vice president of marketing and applications for PMC-Sierra's Communication Products Division. "Together with our recently announced MSP7100 Multi-Service Processor(R) family, we are delivering breakthrough-performance semiconductor solutions for the delivery of IPTV and other advanced IP services over broadband."

Cost-effective ADSL2+ Solution

PMC-Sierra today also introduced the PM4381 ADSL2+ AFE. The device is pin compatible with the PM4380, enabling vendors to produce cost-optimized ADSL2+ variants. The PM4381 interfaces directly to PMC-Sierra's MSP7120 ADSL2+ Multi-Service Processor, which integrates Aware, Inc.'s StratiPHY2+(TM) IP, and provides a complete chipset for advanced residential gateways and Integrated Access Devices (IADs).

Flexible Digital Interface Specification

Both devices implement PMC-Sierra's ADSL2+/VDSL2 Interface Specification (AVIS) digital interface, which simplifies connection to a variety of DSL DMT processors by offering selectable data rates, clocking modes and control signaling. The AVIS interface offers a nibble-wide configuration to help reduce pin-count on the connecting modem chips. To promote compatibility of the digital interface, PMC-Sierra is offering customers and partners free access to the interface specification at: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/products/details/pm4380/ (registration required).

Product Availability and Customer Support

Samples of the PM4380 VDSL2/ADSL2+ and PM4381 ADSL2+ AFE devices will be available in Q2 2006. A data sheet for the devices may be found on PMC-Sierra's web site at http://www.pmc-sierra.com/products/. A comprehensive support package, including reference design and application notes, is available upon request. For more information about pricing and availability, contact a PMC-Sierra sales representative at http://www.pmc-sierra.com/contactSales.

About PMC-Sierra

PMC-Sierra(TM) is a leading provider of broadband communications and storage semiconductors for metro, access, fiber to the home, wireless infrastructure, storage, laser printers and customer premises equipment. PMC-Sierra offers worldwide technical and sales support, including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe, Israel and Asia. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the PMCS symbol and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com.

Attachments:

Figure 1: PM4380 VDSL2/ADSL2+ AFE block diagram

Figure 2: VDSL2 and ADSL2+ Residential Gateway applications

For figures visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/pdf/AFE_figures.pdf

For photos visit: http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/images/PM4380-PM4381.JPG

Resources to Extend Your Product Knowledge and Understanding

PMC-Sierra CPE Products www.pmc-sierra.com/digital-home

PMC-Sierra New Products www.pmc-sierra.com/products/newProducts.html

PMC-Sierra Webinars www.pmc-sierra.com/webinars

(C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2006. All rights reserved. PMC and Multi-Service Processor are registered trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. in the United States and other countries. PMC-SIERRA, PMCS and "Thinking You can Build On" are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. StratiPHY2+ is a trademark of Aware, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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