Codecs create flexible audio designs

Devices are the industry's first I2S codecs capable of interfacing directly to digital or analogue microphones.

Texas Instruments has introduced three new audio codecs featuring low power consumption and noise filtering capabilities to maximise battery life and enhance performance in portable consumer applications, such as wireless handsets, personal navigation devices, digital still cameras and portable media players.

The devices are the industry's first I2S codecs capable of interfacing directly to digital or analogue microphones.

The four-channel TLV320AIC34, and TLV320AIC33 and TLV320AIC3106 stereo codecs can accept either a digital bit stream from a digital microphone or differential or single-ended inputs from a traditional analogue microphone.

The new codecs, in conjunction with digital microphones such as those offered by Akustica, provide designers with a premium quality audio solution.

"Electromagnetic and radio frequency interference can compromise audio quality on portable devices and cellular phones, resulting in 'static-noise' and 'dropouts' in voice conversations", says Davin Yuknis, Vice President Marketing and Product Management, Akustica.

"The combination of TI's advanced, high-performance codecs and Akustica's robust, digital microphones ensures that the audio quality is crystal clear throughout the acoustic signal chain".

Digital microphones are becoming more prevalent in various audio applications due to their ability to generate a digital audio signal that is less susceptible to electrical noise than an analogue signal.

With digital microphones, designers have greater freedom in the placement of the codec relative to the microphone.

This flexibility is essential in portable applications where the circuit board is densely populated with chips and codec proximity to the microphone can be a mechanical challenge.

These devices are part of a complete family of versatile, software compatible, low-power codecs for portable applications from TI that also includes the TLV320AIC3101, TLV320AIC3104 and TLV320AIC3105.

The TLV320AIC33 and TLV320AIC3106 are available today and the TLV320AIC34 is sampling now.

The TLV320AIC34 is available in a 6 x 6mm BGA package and the TLV320AIC33 and TLV320AIC3106 are available in 5 x 5mm BGA and 7 x 7mm QFN packages.

Suggested resale pricing in quantities of 1000 is US $6.00 for the TLV320AIC34, $3.95 for the TLV320AIC33 and $3.85 for the TLV320AIC3106.

Technical support and documentation for the new TLV320AIC34, TLV320AIC33 and TLV320AIC3106 audio codecs includes a detailed application note with a step-by-step example for how to set up the evaluation module and how to connect the codec to a digital microphone.

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