MP3 in the mobile telephone, MP3 in the car, MP3 everywhere (9915)

New product concepts based on MP3 technology from MICRONAS:

Freiburg, November 1999 - On the occasion of Comdex '99, the Swiss semiconductor company MICRONAS introduces a number of new audio equipment concepts which are based on its MP3 processor family MAS 35xx. These include MP3-compatible mobile telephones and car radios as well as a new generation of the now familiar mobile flash players which, with the new MICRONAS chip generation, come with integrated download security. With a market share of over 90 % and sales of more than a million ICs, MICRONAS is the world market leader for MP3 decoders for consumer applications.

The basic idea of the MP3 audio standard (short for MPEG Layer 3) is as simple as it is remarkable. Music tracks are downloaded from the internet onto the home PC. From here, they can be transferred to different playback devices - for example, to one of the mobile MP3 players which have been available from several manufacturers for almost exactly two years. These units, which are equipped with 32 or 64 MB flash memory chips, have made a decisive contribution towards giving MP3 an established presence on the music market today - despite the controversy surrounding the subject of download security which has accompanied "music from the internet" right from the start.

New MP3 product concepts

The Walkman-like flash players will shortly be joined by a number of other MP3-compatible products:

Microdrive systems: Microdrive is a miniature hard disk with 340 MByte memory capacity which can be integrated in a CompactFlash memory card. Only half the size of a matchbox, the drive is easily integrated in car radios or portable units. The capacity is sufficient to hold around seven audio CDs compressed in the MP3 format (i.e. with a playback time of approx. 70 hours), making the classic in-car CD changer redundant. The first car radios with Microdrive will come on the market at the beginning of 2000. Another possible application are "in-seat" audio systems for cars, minibuses and coaches with an individual program with which we have become familiar on board aircraft.

The MP3 CD player is a "normal" audio CD player which - equipped with the MP3 chipset from MICRONAS - can also play back MP3-coded CDs with 10 to 12 hours of music. The reference design unveiled by MICRONAS on the occasion of CeBIT '99 is expected to be available as a finished product before the end of 1999, only a few months after the design's world premiere.

The MP3 player for mobile telephones is a tiny device which is simply plugged onto the handset. Music can be heard between calls; when the next telephone call comes, the call is automatically connected and the music muted. The unit makes energy-saving and ergonomic use of the rechargeable battery, display and keypad of the mobile telephone. Mobile telephones with MP3 functionality are set to be launched on the market by two manufacturers within the next few months.

The audio home server is a playback unit with a large hard disk (several gigabytes) on which complete personal music collections can be accommodated in the MP3 format and compiled in the desired sequence for playback. So non-PC users, too, can enjoy MP3 music on small and attractive units.

Last, but not least, the flash players themselves will be equipped with additional functionality. In future, MICRONAS MP3 chips will also support the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format, which gives excellent audio quality especially with low and medium data rates, as well as the speech recording format ADPCM. Furthermore, download security functions are integrated in the new MP3 processor MAS 3509F from MICRONAS, thereby enabling equipment manufacturers to develop products which meet the requirements of the music industry and the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI).

The audio decoder family MAS 35xx from MICRONAS

All the above product concepts are based on the audio signal processors in the MAS 35xx family. The following versions are either currently available or will be available in the near future:

Together with the D-A converter DAC 3550A, the MAS 3507D forms the MP3 chipset used in the flash players of almost all manufacturers. The chipset contains the complete signal processing section of the MPEG Layer 3 decoder, including the output circuits for amplifier and headphones. With a software option, it is also possible to record speech in a format similar to ADPCM. Thanks to their low power consumption, the ICs are particularly suitable for use in battery-operated equipment.

The MAS 3509F represents the next generation of MP3 processors. In addition to supporting MP3, the IC also supports the speech recording formats SC-4 (modified ADPCM) and G.729; furthermore, the D-A converter, the amplifier, an A-D converter for the speech recording, as well as all the external analog components - including two high-performance step-up converters for the power supply - have been integrated as well. This "all-in-one" chip opens the door to the implementation of (even) small(er) units offering attractive designs, low prices and long playing times.

The circuits required for implementing download security conforming to SDMI have also been integrated. So the MAS 3509F can satisfy the decisive requirement that must be fulfilled by future consumer equipment - that of processing MP3 or related digital audio standards.

Standard delivery and available package types

The MAS 3507D and the DAC 3550A are available in either the 44-pin PQFP or the 49-ball BGA package. Initially, the MAS 3509F is only available in the 64-pin PLQFP package. The two-chip set is available immediately; test specimens of the new single-chip decoder will be available in the first quarter of 2000. MICRONAS can provide reference designs for some of the product concepts described.