Programmable chip combines radio and audio

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team May 24, 2002

The SAF7730 is a dual-IF car radio and audio DSP claimed to provide excellent radio and audio quality.

The SAF7730 is a dual-IF car radio and audio DSP claimed to provide excellent radio and audio quality.

Developed by Philips, the chip is cost optimised, technically advanced and flexible.

User-specific functions can be configured to match the software platform required for the car radio manufacturers' system, providing a high level of product differentiation.

Philips is leveraging its lead in the car DSP market to drive the development of automotive software radio.

This semiconductor solution will enable car radio manufacturers to add new product differentiating functionality at reduced time to market, as only the software needs to be upgraded rather than a completely new hardware design.

By integrating the radio and audio software functions onto one chip, the software radio requires fewer external components, which further reduces costs.

"We are strengthening our leadership position in car radio ICs through constant innovations", said Pascal Langlois, vice-president for Philips Semiconductors, Global Market Segment Automotive.

"The major strength of software radio is that it provides excellent radio and audio quality and is future-proof, enabling manufacturers to differentiate their products by incorporating extra functionality without expensive redesign of systems".

The SAF7730 includes excellent multipath and antenna diversity performance, resulting in superb radio quality.

New enhanced audio features are obtainable, including adaptive ultrabass II and music elevation, combined with a high sound quality.

The software radio also includes an iDAB interface, enabling digital radio.

Philips will launch a complete family of semiconductor solutions for the automotive software radio market and engineering samples will be available this year, enabling early design-in and product qualification.

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 23 May 2002).