Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: STMicroelectronics | Subject: "Drum" and "Violin" designs
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 23 March 2007
High bit-rate wireless audio for
consumer products
A reference design for a high bit-rate wireless audio system is for use in consumer electronic products such as home-theatre systems, surround-sound and gaming speakers and DTV speakers.
STMicroelectronics and Infra-Com, a specialist in short-range diffused infra-red (DIR) wireless communication ICs, have announced a complete reference design for a high bit-rate wireless audio system intended for consumer electronic products such as home-theatre systems, surround-sound and gaming speakers, DTV speakers, and portable music and after-market accessories The "Drum" and "Violin" designs combine Infra-Com's receiver side IrGate IC with the all-digital class D power amplifier and signal processor from ST's Sound Terminal family, creating a complete high-quality remote audio amplification system
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Audio signals using Infra-Com's IrGate wireless infra-red protocol are processed by an IrGT801ADR Modem and Interface IC, which receives data from the infra-red sensors in the optical/analogue front-end via an LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) interface and drives the ST's full digital amplifier through an I2S (Inter-IC Sound) serial digital audio interface.
The Drum system embeds ST's STA326, a fully digital IC amplifier that is able to deliver 2 x 60W of audio power into 8Ohm loudspeakers.
It provides true hi-fi audio quality, with an uncompressed 24bit 48kHz PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) wireless link, and almost zero latency for perfect lip-sync.
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Latency is just 150us compared with typically more than 7ms for competitive RF-based products.
Amplifier efficiency is up to 92% - among the highest in the market - allowing a compact heatsink and power supply to be used in the overall application.
The amplifier enjoys full built-in overcurrent and overtemperature protection capabilities, and the all-digital audio stream maintains full audio quality and 100dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) and dynamic range.
The Violin system embeds ST's STA333ML, a fully digital micro-less IC amplifier that is able to deliver 2 x 20W without the need of external heatsink.
The STA333ML retains the highest digital audio quality without adding software development efforts.
DIR enables optical communication without the need for line-of-sight between the transmitting and receiving nodes.
Unlike a direct infra-red signal - which emits light in a narrow beam - a diffused infra-red device floods the room with the infra-red emissions and makes use of natural reflections from the ceiling, walls, floor and other surfaces to maintain robust high bit-rate communications, unaffected by obstructions or by moving people within the enclosure.
The link effectively behaves similarly to a radio signal within its operating space, but with no possibility of being affected by, or generating, radio frequency interference (RFI); it is also insensitive to remote control signals, and cannot be 'overheard' in an adjacent room.
Additionally DIR is a worldwide unregulated technology operating at 870nm.
The STA326 single-chip audio system integrates digital audio processing, digital amplifier control and a DDX digital power output stage.
It can be configured easily via digital control to operate in one of several different output modes, and offers a full range of processing and equalisation options, including up to four programmable 28bit biquads per channel, and bass and treble tone control.
The device is one of a range of single-chip and single-package audio products in ST's Sound Terminal family; other amplifiers in the family can be used with the Drum design to satisfy different audio power requirements, from 2 x 1W up to 2 x 80W.
"The Drum is the first of a set of complete and easy-to-use turnkey designs for manufacturers of remote audio products, combining high quality amplification with the user convenience of diffused infra-red technology", says Andrea Onetti, General Manager of the Audio Division within ST's Home Entertainment and Display Group.
"The Drum and similar designs will complement other interfaces such as Bluetooth 2.0 EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), WiFi and UWB (Ultra-WideBand) in the Sound Terminal family, and we look forward to introducing a single-package DIR and digital amplification solution in the future".
The Drum and Violin reference designs are available now as the M2C_IrGT801ADR_STA326 and M2C_IrGT801ADR_STA333ML modules, respectively, for evaluation and product development.
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