Car audio development platform uses Flash drive

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jan 5, 2006

Texas Instruments has integrated M-Systems' DOC H-Series embedded Flash drive (EFD) into its high-speed encode and playback solution for car audio applications.

Texas Instruments has integrated M-Systems' DOC H-Series embedded Flash drive (EFD) into its high-speed encode and playback solution for car audio applications.

With its high speed encode and playback solution, Texas Instruments provides a comprehensive software suite running on an Aureus DA710 audio digital signal processor (DSP) to provide a feature-rich, cost-effective software and hardware solution for automotive entertainment applications.

DOC H-Series EFDs provide a highly reliable and robust embedded memory solution to answer the growing demands for solid-state storage within automotive audio systems.

The unique combination of DiskOnChip EFD architecture, MLC NAND Flash media and M-Systems' TrueFFS Flash management technology results in a cost effective, high-performance product with a high level of reliability suited for the demanding profile of automotive audio applications.

With the help of DOC H-series, automotive audio application designers can extend the life of their platform and practically future-proof its storage by providing a seamless migration between NAND generations, while minimising associated design risks.

DOC H-series offers an easy transition to NAND technology by addressing inherent shortcomings of raw NAND media, and frequent NAND architecture changes.

DOC H-Series virtually does away with the traditional trade-offs associated with migration to new storage technologies at the risk of platform stability by providing a complete, standardised interface solution, based on the most appropriate NAND Flash media per given density.

"The automotive audio and infotainment market is demonstrating a dramatic increase in demand for solid-state multimedia-related storage".

"Cars' dashboards are essentially being reinvented as a hub of quality multimedia entertainment", said Dave Maples, Performance Audio Manager, TI.

"For developers of such car audio systems, a long product life span as well as ruggedness, endurance, high performance and reliability are essential requirements".

"DOC H-series presents an attractive, easy-to-integrate storage solution, making it a perfect pairing partner to our DA710-based high-speed encode and playback development platform for car audio".

"Texas Instruments is a leader and trendsetter with a long history of collaboration with M-Systems based on our DiskOnChip architecture", said Noam Kedem, Vice President Marketing for M-Systems.

"By supporting M-Systems' DOC within their DA710-based car audio development platform, TI is enabling automotive audio system designers easy access to a high density, onboard Flash storage solution which meets high reliability requirements at cost-effective price points".