Conexant Launches New High-Performance Digital Audio Processor with Integrated Power Management

February 8, 2012

Tools

Enables Conexant to Offer the Most Complete Turnkey Solutions with Scalable Audio Processing Performance, Analog/Digital I/Os and DSP Algorithms

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Conexant Systems Inc. today announced the CX20805, its new dual-core 32-bit, high-performance, low-power digital audio processor, targeted to applications with the most demanding audio requirements. By integrating high-speed USB 2.0, other key audio interfaces with advanced power management and a high-performance 800 MIPS digital signal processor (DSP), Conexant offers the industry’s most comprehensive audio solution. The new chip is accompanied by an efficient C compiler, software tools and a suite of DSP algorithms. The CX20805 is based on the Conexant Audio Processing Engine (CAPE) architecture, which lays the foundation for the company’s future audio chip innovations.

Historically, audio performance in consumer electronics devices has been sacrificed in a drive to keep costs down. As consumer expectations for audio quality have increased, along with advances in audio algorithms and hardware, precision sound and clarity have become mission-critical for today’s consumer electronics. With the CX20805, Conexant brings the ultimate in flexibility, performance and power-efficiency for designers to meet their new audio challenges. In addition to offering customers and partners the powerful new chip with a fully open programmable environment, Conexant also offers the most comprehensive, turnkey solution by integrating an analog mixed signal codec and application-specific software DSP algorithms. Uniquely qualified to bring an audio architecture of this kind to market, Conexant has tapped its long history and expertise in mixed signal, system-on-chip, firmware, software, and systems development experience.

“This new architecture, which combines a 32-bit DSP core, advanced power management and rich I/Os, is a first for the audio industry,” said Sailesh Chittipeddi, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for Conexant. “We are answering an expressed need in the marketplace for a platform that is customizable, yet comes packaged with best-in-class analog components and software algorithms integrated for full solutions.”

“I'm impressed with Conexant's new DSP architecture with its compute power, rich audio-centric I/O and integral power management," said Will Strauss, president of market research firm Forward Concepts. "The demand for high-performance audio processing continues to grow, and the CX20805 architecture is sure to get a lot of attention.”

Key features include:

A dual-core 32-bit DSP, with each core including dual MAC running at 200 MHz
Large embedded memory with 520 KB SRAM and 352 KB ROM
A high-speed USB 2.0 device supporting up to eight endpoints
Full duplex stereo I²S multiplexed with a four-channel PCM interface
I2C master and slave
SPI master and slave
Quad digital microphone with pulse density modulation support
SPDIF RX and TX
Tri-color PWM LED drivers
24 flexible and fully-programmable I/Os
Custom audio bus to connect to multi-channel audio devices
Programmable PLLs
AES 128 decryption engine
Advanced debug features such as on-chip logic analyzer and JTAG
Dedicated peripheral and memory-to-memory DMAs channels
UART
Integrated, advanced low-power techniques such as DCDC conversion, power gating, power retention, dynamic voltage scaling and frequency scaling mechanisms to further reduce power consumption

Samples in a small footprint 9x9, 116 pin, dual-row QFN package, and EVKs are available to qualified customers and partners in March 2012. Pricing is $5.50 each in 10K quantities.

About Conexant

Conexant’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative semiconductor solutions includes products for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications. Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit www.conexant.com.

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