Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor | Subject: 4th order sigma-delta ADC
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 05 March 2004
Novel ADC takes sigma-delta to the
fourth order
A novel advanced digital microphone technology is claimed to boost the performance of the next generation of cellular phones.
A novel advanced digital microphone technology is claimed to boost the performance of the next generation of cellular phones Featuring ultra-low-power mixed-signal design, Zarlink's new chip is the industry's only A/D convertor to meet the stringent performance specifications demanded by cellphone manufacturers
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Cellular handsets are quickly evolving into complete communication tools, with voice services augmented by applications ranging from camera, voice and music recorder capabilities, to text messaging and Internet access.
As part of this transition, cellular phone manufacturers are converting from analogue to digital microphone technology.
For consumers, digital microphone technology offers better sound quality for voice and recorder applications, and superior noise cancellation capabilities to improve phone performance in noisy environments.
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By supporting the full audio band up to 20kHz Zarlink's new high-performance A/D convertor for digital microphones helps achieve clearer sound quality in cellphones.
In addition, the device easily supports cellular phone stereo performance.
The Zarlink convertor chip enables "stereo on one wire" capability, with the output signals from two digital microphones in the handset interlaced on a single line.
For manufacturers, digital microphones will help reduce power consumption, save space and achieve lower design and component costs by eliminating complex analogue components such as preamplifiers and modulators.
Zarlink's ultra-low-power convertor chip draws less than 500uA and measures just 1.96 x 1.05mm - small enough to produce tiny 4mm microphones.
"This device for digital microphones builds on our skills in ultra low-power CMOS analogue-to-digital convertor design for hearing aids", said Steve Swift, Vice President and General Manager, Ultra Low-Power Communications, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"As a result, we will be first-to-market with a convertor that meets the tough performance specifications of cellphone manufacturers".
Zarlink's low-power A/D convertor is now sampling with microphone manufacturers.
The chip is also suitable for battery-powered communications devices such as PDAs, wireless audio headsets and headphones, and hands-free telephone systems for automobiles.
To meet performance and power requirements, Zarlink's A/D convertor employs a 4th-order sigma-delta modulator architecture that provides a wide audio bandwidth, high signal-to-noise ratio and a low noise floor, while consuming very little power.
Incorporating a patent-pending technique, Zarlink's 4th-order modulator architecture ensures modulator stability, even under acoustic overload conditions.
In comparison, competing devices that use a lower order sigma-delta modulator exhibit instability when subjected to acoustic overload conditions, or consume excessive power to achieve required audio bandwidth and noise requirements.
Zarlink's high performance low-power solution addresses these otherwise serious design issues for cellphone manufacturers.
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