Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Broadcom Corp | Subject: Broadcom BCM2044S
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 06 November 2007
Low-cost Bluetooth system boosts headset
quality
The Broadcom BCM2044S uses a ROM-based architecture to implement its SmartAudio noise and echo reduction algorithms, enhancing audio quality without adding additional costly components.
Broadcom has released the industry's first Bluetooth audio solution to offer noise and echo suppression without expensive Flash memory and digital signal processing (DSP) components, resulting in significantly improved audio quality in mass market Bluetooth headsets Expanding the Broadcom Bluetooth audio platform, the new single-chip ROM-based device features advanced audio enhancement technology in a small, low-cost package that will help to drive cost-effective, stylish headset designs based on Bluetooth technology
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 19 Oct 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Audio devices, such as headsets, represent the second largest segment of the Bluetooth market (following mobile handsets).
As more countries, states and cities enact hands-free legislation, the number of basic headsets will continue to increase, with 80 million expected to be sold in 2007.
Many of these headsets will be used for hands-free connectivity in cars, where audio quality and noise cancellation are essential.
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In the past, noise and echo suppression algorithms have been typically limited to high-end headsets that require additional components and are more expensive to manufacture.
The Broadcom BCM2044S headset solution leverages a ROM-based architecture to implement its SmartAudio noise and echo reduction algorithms, enhancing audio quality without adding additional costly components.
This technology potentially reduces the bill of materials (BOM) cost by 40%, enabling OEMs to offer high-end audio capabilities at the same cost as basic headsets.
In addition, the BCM2044S is footprint-compatible with the Broadcom BCM2044, enabling OEM customers to cost-effectively offer multi-tiered product lines based on a common hardware platform.
Broadcom SmartAudio technology intelligently analyses digital audio streams within the Bluetooth headset, differentiating between voice and nonvoice characteristics while eliminating background noise to deliver a clearer, more satisfying conversation.
SmartAudio technology also automatically increases the volume on the headset when the user walks into a noisy environment, intelligently adjusting the output to maximise comfort for the headset user without the need to touch any buttons.
Broadcom has also released the BCM92044 reference design, which provides headset OEMs with a greatly reduced two-layer printed circuit board (PCB), versus alternative solutions that require PCBs with four or six layers.
Broadcom's BCM92044 reference design supports extremely small audio devices and requires about 30% fewer external components than competing solutions.
The reference design includes Broadcom's Bluetooth software, along with essential development tools to accelerate time to market for customer products.
Broadcom also conducts extensive interoperability testing with other Bluetooth devices and to date, the BCM92044 reference design has been validated with over 200 Bluetooth devices.
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