CML facilitates growing digital PMR market

CML Microcircuits has announced the launch of the CMX7141, a highly integrated and adaptable digital private mobile radio (dPMR) processor built on CML's proprietary FirmASIC technology.

CML Microcircuits is a founding member of the recently formed dPMR MoU group, along with the Kenwood Corp., Fylde Micro, CTE International and ICOM Inc., dedicated to the promotion of dPMR technology and the future developments of this new digital protocol. CML is a central player in providing small, low-cost, low-power semiconductors to aid the deployment of such dPMR products.

The incorporation of FirmASIC technology allows the product's function and feature set to be easily configured via special Function Image data files. These are uploaded during device initialisation, either automatically from an external EEPROM or via a host microcontroller over the built-in C-BUS serial interface. Function Image FI-1.0 facilitates dPMR; offering users improved speech quality, better spectrum efficiency and high-speed data−the key objectives for digital (dPMR) systems.

The CMX7141 is a compact, low-cost, low power processor, utilising a limiter discriminator based RF transceiver for fast time-to-market of new wave digital PMR (dPMR) radios. The product includes dual-mode capability for interoperability with legacy analogue PMR systems, so as to provide conventional CTCSS/DCS PMR services.

Conforming to ETSI dPMR Standard TS102-490 and general digital PMR in 6.25kHz and 12.5kHz channels, the CMX7141 is fully adaptable to radio design requirements, supporting both digital and analogue protocols. The product offers both Air interface physical layer (Layer 1) and Air interface data link layer (Layer 2) for dPMR, a 4-level FSK modem with soft decision decoding, vocoder connectivity (where CML's recently launched CMX618 vocoder or similar could be used), along with auxiliary ADCs and DACs.

The CMX7141 operates from a single 3.3V supply with flexible powersave modes. The product is available in a 48-pin VQFN or LQFP package. An Evaluation kit is available for this product (DE6181).