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Micronas Introduces Integrated Audio DAC For Enhanced Audio in Portable Multimedia Devices (0305)

- Trade News | 0305

New Cost-Effective, Low-Power IC Drives Audio Innovation in Handhelds

Freiburg, Germany -March 6, 2003- Directly targeted at multimedia and consumer applications, Micronas (SWX Swiss Exchange: MASN, Prime Standard Segment Frankfurt: MNSN) today introduced the DAC 3560C, an audio chip specifically designed to address the increasing audio demands in portable multimedia devices. With its advanced degree of integration, including a high-precision stereo digital-to-analog converter, the DAC 3560C minimizes the amount of external components making it a very cost-effective solution for a variety of audio applications such as PDAs, digital audio players and voice recorders, as well as the latest 2.5G and 3G mobile phones.

The DAC 3560C is currently being implemented into products by Microcell, an original device manufacturer (ODM) focused on providing complete solutions for wireless telecommunications devices such as mobile phones and PDAs based on their clients' specifications and brand.

"The creation of new products with more features and shorter design cycles are key characteristics of today's mobile phone market. At Microcell, we strive to transform our customers' requirements into competitive products", according to Microcell. "The high flexibility and performance of the Micronas DAC 3560C enables us to quickly design high-performance and cost-effective wireless systems for our customers."

This new single-chip solution allows system integrators and manufacturers to implement a wide range of innovative features, incorporating the excellent audio and electrical performance characteristics of the stereo DAC, the earpiece, loudspeaker and stereo headset amplifiers. In addition the DAC 3560C includes both stereo and mono analog audio inputs, which can be mixed with the digital audio source and delivered to the selected audio amplifier.

"This is a significant product progression for optimized portable audio as it brings a complete solution for enhanced digital and analog audio to the mobile world," said Shawn Richards, director marketing multimedia at Micronas. "Portable products have become established audio generators with personalized melody ringers, mobile gaming and music based system features fuelling this demand. The inclusion of ever improving miniature loudspeakers and the use of stereo headsets with mobiles, PDAs and consumer gadgets demonstrates this exciting trend. The new DAC 3560C offers the performance, flexibility and cost efficiency to meet the audio and system demands for all of these applications and more."

The DAC 3560C supports a wide voltage range between 2.2 and 5.5V, offering the system manufacturers flexibility in implementation, application and performance levels. Other key features include the cost saving internal clock architecture, audible pop suppression circuitry, integrated power management and the capacitor less headset connection as well as the benefit provided by the low profile, miniature PQFN40 package.

For applications with a noisy power supply, the DAC 3560C includes a low-dropout regulator (LDO) to improve the headset/earpiece power supply rejection ratio at voltages as low as 3V. If this is not needed, the DAC can bypass the LDO allowing a lowered supply limit of 2.2V. The digital I/O-interfaces also have a separate supply pin allowing configurations down to 1.8V, thus enabling direct connection to today's DSPs and system microcontrollers.

The implementation of the DAC 3560C in various DSP-based architectures is also greatly assisted by the incorporation of standard data and control-interfaces such as PCM, SPI and I²C. These, make the DAC implementation into any product architecture an easy task.

The DAC 3560C comes in 6x6x0.9 mm 40-pin Plastic Quad Flat No leads package (PQFN40).Samples are available now and the high quantity pricing is at 1.80 EUR.


About The Microcell Group

Microcell designs, develops and produces mobile communication devices. Microcell's first-class technological ability to produce its own solutions enables it to act as a global partner to the largest OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and other leading companies acting in the mobile phone industry.

Microcell is a privately-owned entity established at the end of 1997, headquartered in Zug Switzerland, and with a presence in Nanjing, China; Copenhagen, Denmark; Espoo, Kuopio, Oulu, Raahe and Turku, Finland; and Dallas and San Jose in the USA. With 670 employees who are professionals in wireless technology, the company is in a leading position in the growing ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) business of wireless technology.

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