LG Electronics Demonstrates Mobile DTV Receiver, Related Technology to Detroit Automaker Audience

With two local broadcasters in Detroit among the first in the country transmitting Mobile Digital Television signals, LG Electronics today demonstrated its industry-standard mobile DTV technology to representatives from the automobile industry and discussed how easy it will be to integrate Mobile DTV reception into existing and future car “infotainment” systems.

LG’s Mobile DTV is the first consumer electronics product certified to comply with mobile digital television (DTV) technology now being deployed by American broadcasters. The DP570MH mobile receiver is the electronics industry’s first portable, battery-operated mobile DTV in the United States that is designed to receive new rugged over-the-air signals being transmitted by local broadcasters as well as display closed captioning information for viewers who rely on text for the full enjoyment of TV programs.

Ideal for Automotive Applications

The new product, which will be available later this year, is ideal for backseat viewing by passengers and the technology can easily be integrated into car video systems such as those demonstrated today in Detroit.

“It’s easy to receive the new mobile DTV broadcasts with our new portable DTV, which comes equipped with a built-in antenna and the ability to play DVDs and CDs,” said Tim Alessi, director of product development, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “And this technology can be easily integrated into rear-seat screens as well.”

A First for Mobile Viewers

Ideal for reception of Mobile DTV any time, virtually anywhere, and at any speed, the DP570MH Mobile DTV offers the flexibility of both over-the-air reception and the convenience of built-in DVD playback. Equipped with stereo speakers and a 7-inch wide screen to display crystal clear digital TV images.

The DP570MH comes equipped to play DVD movie discs and audio CDs, and it can also display .JPG photos and play WMA music files from its USB2.0 connection. The Mobile Digital Television comes equipped with two earphone jacks so that more than one passenger can enjoy Mobile DTV shows or movies in the back seat of the car, or on a train.

Equipped with a removable battery that powers the device for up to 2.5 hours in TV mode or up to 4.5 hours during DVD playback, the device includes both AC and Auto power adaptors. The DP570MH Portable Television with integrated DVD player will be available later this year at a suggested retail price of $249.

Chips Available for In-Car Infotainment Systems

Co-developer of the technology at the heart of the Mobile DTV standard, LG began mass production of the critical component for Mobile DTV reception – the LG2160A integrated circuit (IC) chip – a year ago. The latest version, the LG2161R single chip design that includes both the tuner and demodulator, is much smaller – only seven millimeters square – and it consumes less power than earlier versions, supports various interfaces and provides improved performance.

This key component of automotive mobile DTV receivers already can be found in a variety of new products being introduced by various manufacturers this year for mobile DTV, from laptop USB accessory receivers to netbooks with integrated mobile DTV tuners and other products.

Standardized by the Advanced Television Systems Committee and formally adopted as the mobile DTV standard last October, the new Mobile DTV standard allows broadcasters to use a portion of the existing 19.4 Megabit-per-second DTV channel capacity to transmit data with extremely robust characteristics suitable for mobile, pedestrian and handheld applications. The mobile DTV signal is also compatible with 8-VSB DTV, which was also developed by Zenith, LG’s U.S. research and development lab.