October 20, 2009 -
Targeted at portable applications such as digital still cameras, digital camcorders, and voice recorders, mono Models WM8944 and WM8945 and stereo Models WM8946 and WM8948 integrate speaker, video and microphone amplifiers, and LDO regulator. Models WM8945 and WM8948 also include touch panel controller. Housed in 36-ball W-CSP package, all include dynamic range control, stereo-widening algorithm, 5 notch filters, 5-band programmable equalizer, and programmable wind noise filter.
Wolfson Announces New High-Performance Low-Power CODEC Family
Wolfson Microelectronics (LSE:WLF.L), a leading global provider of high-performance mixed-signal semiconductors to the consumer electronics market, today announced a new family of innovative low-power CODECs, designed to enhance audio performance and extend battery life in portable applications.
The WM8944, WM8945, WM8946 and WM8948 are the latest additions to Wolfson's successful portfolio of low-power CODECs, and are targeted at portable applications, including digital still cameras, digital camcorders and voice recorders. The WM8944 and WM8945 are mono low-power CODECs, with a touch panel controller included in the WM8945. The WM8946 and WM8948 are stereo low-power CODECs, with the WM8948 featuring a touch panel controller. By incorporating these ICs, consumer electronics manufacturers can make an average saving of 50% on the board footprint in the areas of audio record and playback.
Among the key features of these products is Wolfson's innovative ReTuneTM filter, which enables customers to improve the frequency characteristics of the device housing, microphone and speaker, and provides enhanced record and playback performance without requiring expensive hardware modifications.
The devices also provide a high level of feature integration including speaker, video and microphone amplifiers, and an LDO regulator, which simplify system design, increase noise immunity, lower BOM cost, and minimize the total footprint of the audio solution. An extensive range of audio enhancement features are also included to improve the sound quality during recording in portable devices, including dynamic range control, a stereo-widening algorithm, five notch filters, five-band programmable equalizer, and programmable wind noise filter. The products also include a digital microphone interface, enabling the transition to MEMS-based microphones with high noise immunity.
Software compatibility across the product family enables system designers to adopt a platform development approach for multiple models. For example, in digital still camera applications, the WM8944, WM8945, WM8946 and WM8948 enable system designers to simultaneously develop the audio solution for mono and stereo models, with and without touch panel control.
Duncan Macadie, Wolfson's Low Power Audio Product Line Manager said: "With these new CODECs, we are taking our industry-leading low-power technology into markets where battery life and audio performance, especially recording quality, are critical. The flexibility of these products, combined with a significant level of feature integration, provides a compelling blend of cost-competitiveness and high audio performance in multiple usage scenarios, which are ideal for a wide range of handheld applications."
Availability
The WM8944, WM8945, WM8946 and WM8948 are available for sampling now in a 36-ball W-CSP package. For 1K quantities, the WM8944 is priced at $0.95, the WM8945 at $1.45, the WM8946 at $1.62, and the WM8948 at $2.14.
WM8944, WM8945, WM8946 and WM8948 customer evaluation boards with the Wolfson Interactive Setup and Configuration Environment (WISCE) are available to aid device evaluation and development. WISCE connects to the evaluation board over USB and offers a unique interactive register map interface. This interface provides unprecedented control and overview of the device settings.
About Wolfson Microelectronics
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a global leader in the supply of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductor solutions to the consumer electronics market. In the home, in the office and on the move, Wolfson's innovative technology can be found at the heart of the world's leading digital consumer goods, including premier hi-fi equipment, mobile phones, mp3 players, flat panel TVs, digital still cameras and portable navigation devices.
Wolfson is committed to the design and supply of ground-breaking products, including ultra low power and high performance audio devices, silicon microphones, power management IC's and noise cancellation solutions, all of which come together in the Wolfson AudioPlus(TM) portfolio. This rich portfolio allows Wolfson's global customers to better differentiate their digital consumer products and create whole new end-user experiences.
Wolfson has blended together many of its successful audio components to develop an architecture-defining family of mixed-signal hub solutions. These feature-rich hubs deliver world-class audio performance, significantly enhance battery life, provide longer music playback time, and offer more end-user features at a lower total cost - all of this whilst enabling designers to optimally manage the complex world of multiple concurrent use cases.
The company's headquarters is located in Edinburgh, UK. Wolfson's customers are located worldwide, and so is Wolfson, with design centers, sales offices, applications teams and engineering expertise across Europe, the US and Asia. Wolfson Microelectronics plc is listed on the London stock exchange (LSE: WLF.L).
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