Codecs handle all flat-panel TV audio signals

Multichannel codecs for flat panel TVs provide central routing point for all audio signals, both analogue and digital.

Wolfson Microelectronics has introduced a family of multichannel codecs (WM8593, WM8594 and WM8599) for flat panel television (FP-TV) applications.

A unique system allows the routing of a wide range of analogue and digital audio signals through the devices, while simultaneously using the two fully independent high quality stereo DACs and stereo ADC.

The WM8593 integrates a digital audio multiplexer supporting five digital channels to reduce interface requirements on the FP-TV host processor.

This means that one device can be the central routing point for all audio signals, both analogue and digital.

The new devices allow multiple markets to be served with a common hardware platform, as well as reducing board size and design overheads.

The WM8593, WM8594 and WM8599 each implement four channels of high-performance audio DAC, two channels of ADC, SCART switching with support for 2V RMS inputs and outputs and low-pin-count packages providing hardware power-down, mute and reset inputs.

All of the new ICs operate from 3.3 and 9V supplies, eliminating the need for designers to implement discrete circuitry to drive and receive 2Vrms audio signals.

The WM8593 supports eight stereo input channels and three stereo output channels, providing the maximum routing flexibility by allowing any analogue input signal to be routed to any output.

This routing flexibility is derived from the device's integrated ADC multiplexer and PGA input multiplexer, as well as two independent stereo DACs which are capable of routing inputs from any digital source to any of the WM8593's integrated programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs).

The WM8593 provides an integrated digital audio multiplexer, supporting five groups of digital signals and allowing flexible routing of multiple digital audio sources received via HDMI, memory card or S/PDIF inputs.

The WM8593 is delivered in a 64-pin TQFP, reducing the design effort involved in creating new FP-TV products by condensing multiple discrete devices and extensive PCB routing into a single device.

The WM8594 supports five stereo audio inputs, three audio outputs and fixed digital routing, delivering a lower-cost option in a 48-pin TQFP package.

Audio performance is the same as that of the WM8593, including low total harmonic distortion (THD), high signal to noise ratio (SNR) and wide bandwidth.

THD and SNR for the ADCs is - 85 and 100dB, respectively, supporting bandwidths between 32 and 96kHz, and corresponding performance for the DACs is - 90 and 100dB, and 32-192kHz.

The WM8599 provides low-cost routing for cost-sensitive markets, and matches the high audio performance specification of the WM8593.

It supports five stereo input channels and three stereo output channels, and features a common interface for the two on-chip DACs, fixed digital routing and a 48-pin TQFP package.

The three new devices are designed with compatible register maps, which reduce software design effort when scaling FP-TV designs to support extra channels and features to match market expectations and price levels.

The devices are available for sampling now.

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