Sony is launching 40 new silicon TV Tuners. Holy shit, right? Who knew that there were that many different kinds of them and also that Sony made them. I mean, yes, I know they have them on their telvisions but you dont think of Sony and automatically think, TV tuner! Sony is achieving two goals with these new tuners. First, they will be 40% more efficient than the current TV tuners and they will also be 40% smaller (aka, will be cheaper to produce). These TV tuners will come as parts of three new series: SUT-Rx200 Series (silicon tuner), the SUT-Dx200 Series (silicon tuner with demodulator), and the SUT-Rx300 Series (slim silicon tuner).

Want to know more? Well I’m glad you do because we have one hell of a press release for you after the jump.

 Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation announced that it will begin to ship samples of its extensive lineup of silicon tuner modules, which incorporate Sony’s silicon turner IC that conform to worldwide broadcast systems.
In light of the market’s transition from coil to silicon tuners, Sony will build up a global business by launching 40 small, high-performance silicon tuner modules, which incorporate its proprietary radio frequency circuit technology.

In order to meet customers’ various demands, Sony has developed different types of silicon tuner modules including antenna switch models, loop-through function,demodulator models for digital broadcasts, and dual tuner models.
By using Sony’s silicon tuner modules, LCD TV and Video recording equipment manufacturers can realize improved production efficiencies, while being assured of superior performance. For example, they can reduce the number of necessary components as well as implement common global design for both hardware and software. Sony’s silicon tuner modules are also eco-friendly with low power consumption (40% less than Sony’s conventional coil tuner) and standby mode. In addition, they are immediately compatible with new broadcast systems such as, “DVB-T2″* (Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial 2).
Sony started mass production of silicon tuner modules in 2008 and has cumulatively produced more than 10 million modules (as of June 2010).

Key features
Miniaturization
Reduced size of silicon tuner module by 40% compared to conventional coil tuner which contributes to smallerprinted circuit board in final products.

Superior Interference Tolerance
Silicon tuner module is designed to withstand ingress noise from peripheral circuits because it uses Sony’s proprietary radio frequency circuit and simulation technologies.
In addition, spontaneous-emission noise can be minimized, which simplifies product development.

Stable reception performance
Achieved stable reception in silicon tuner module by excluding air-core coil. Doing so minimizes the variations caused by reception channels and by the usage environment (ex. ambient temperature).
Furthermore, minimized the performance variation of each product relative to conventional coil tuner.

Standby mode
Silicon tuner module uses 50mW in standby mode and contributes to low power consumption for final products.

Sample Specifications of the thinnest silicon tuner module
SUT-RA301T/Z
Dimensions : 25x30x5mm (Size:3.8cc)
Voltage : 2.5V
Power consumption : 500mW (Typical)
Reception frequency : 47-866MHz
IF frequency : Analog : Fp = 2.2-8.2MHz, Digital : Fc= 3.8-5.1MHz