Bruce....I've see A TON of these guys chips in various digital boxes over the years, looks like we'll be seeing a ton more very soon.
(thanks to John on the CUBE thread) Another cable modem chip.................................. electronicnews.com
STMicroelectronics Unveils DOCSIS Cable Modem Chip Electronic News Nov 30, 2000 --- STMicroelectronics, of Geneva, Switzerland, is entering the cable-modem market with the release of a cable modem IC for the data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS), v1.1. The chip will be aimed at cable data modems, voice and video over IP gateways and advanced interactive set-top boxes applications.
The single chip device, dubbed the STV0396, will integrate a DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 compliant physical layer (PHY) supporting both upstream and downstream functions, a DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 media access control layer (MAC), a 32-bit system microcontroller with instruction and data caches, 8KBytes of embedded SRAM and interfaces to customer premises equipment (CPE) connections. The MAC engine is the result of a joint technology cooperation with Scientific Atlanta Inc.
ST wants to make a name for itself as a major supplier devices for DOCSIS cable modem-enabled appliances. The company believes that the combination of integration level and performance in the STV0396 will make it a key component in accelerating the market for broadband applications over hybrid fiber coax networks.
The STV0396 is implemented in a 0.18 micron CMOS process and will be packaged in a 316 plastic BGA package. Engineering samples are scheduled to be available early in the first quarter of 2001, with production ramp planned in the second half of 2001. Prices were not disclosed, but ST will also offer a complete DOCSIS 1.1 reference design, which can be used by OEMs to build a DOCSIS 1.1 cable modem with USB and Ethernet interfaces for less than $85, the company said. ---------------
My read on this.....trouble in River City for ASP's of cable modem chips. TXN, CUBE, STM, and plenty of others guna pump up the volume.
Rant mode ON: "Mr. BRoad-gunna-CruMble, how's the cable modem/STB biz next year? Still dominating, ASP's flat? The boyz on the "Street" wanna know. Party this week, your place? Rant OFF: |