Firmware cuts voice processing costs

Zarlink's integrated voice processing firmware provides designers with a 30-40% cost-saving compared to using discrete DTMF and caller ID chips.

Zarlink Semiconductor has expanded its hands-free voice processing portfolio with firmware that simplifies design, reduces cost and speeds time to market for feature-rich desktop phones and home automation systems.

The ZLS38503 firmware supports a range of features, including voice recording and prompting, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) receiver, tone generator, call progress tone detection and caller ID.

The voice messaging and prompting firmware works with the previously released ZL38004 hardware platform and ZLS38502 speakerphone firmware to provide a complete solution.

Zarlink's integrated voice processing firmware provides designers with a 30-40% cost-saving compared to using discrete DTMF and caller ID chips.

"Zarlink offers customers a complete, advanced voice processing platform that reduces cost and solves integration issues while enhancing voice quality in hands-free communication systems", said Andrew Faulkner, Director of Zarlink's Voice Processing product line.

"Zarlink's fully integrated hardware and firmware solution eliminates the need for discrete components and can be easily upgraded in-field to support future functionality".

"In comparison, alternative solutions often require third-party or internally developed firmware ported to a DSP".

"This consumes valuable MIPS and adds to development time, cost and complexity".

The ZLS38503 firmware supports voice prompting/messaging and signalling features.

Voice prompting asks the user to perform a function, for example to leave a message after the tone, or provides the user with caller ID information.

The messaging allows the user to leave a message.

The signalling block includes caller ID type 1 detection, DTMF detection, a tone generator (including DTMF generation) and call progress tone detection.

Alternative solutions would require a number of components to support these features.

An integrated tone generator creates single and dual tones, including pre-programmed DTMF tones.

The tone ringer can generate ringer tones for an electronic ringer.

The integrated DTMF receiver detects tones for pass code entry and message playback on phone systems.

In home automation systems, the DTMF receiver can be used to detect keypad tones to control certain applications, for example secure door entry.

Zarlink's ZLS38502 application-specific firmware is a complete package of noise reduction and echo cancellation algorithms specifically designed to provide high-end voice quality in a wide range of speakerphone-enabled systems.

The firmware supports full-duplex operation and integrates psychoacoustic noise reduction along with acoustic echo cancellation and equalisation.

The ZL38004 hands-free voice processing hardware platform comprises a voice-optimised digital signal processor (DSP), integrated memory and dual high-performance Codecs.

Zarlink firmware is loaded onto the hardware platform via either an external Flash memory or through a microprocessor microport, making the voice processing platform extremely flexible and able to support customisation when required.

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