Wolfson Power Management IC selected for IREX Technologies’ new touch-screen eReader

Compatible with leading application processors, the WM8352 features an integrated high fidelity audio CODEC and power management subsystem, enabling the creation of new and exciting multimedia platforms, whilst significantly reducing power consumption, system cost, design and manufacturing complexity and time-to-market. With the WM8352, consumer electronics manufacturers can make savings of up to 25 percent on the device bill of materials (BOM) and up to 50 percent on the board footprint in the areas of power management and audio.

Jess Brown, power management product line manager at Wolfson, said: “We are delighted that IREX has selected our high performance power management and audio technology for its sleek new IREX DR800SG eReader. Our inclusion in the IREX DR800SG is a great testament to the outstanding quality of our power management technology, as well as an endorsement of the skills and expertise of our engineering and design teams in creating complete integrated solutions for a range of leading multimedia platforms.”

WM8352 functions include a high performance, low power audio CODEC with advanced mixing capability that delivers excellent 98dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) performance. The device also features on-chip clock generation, six DC-DC converters, four LDO (low drop-out) voltage regulators, a lithium battery charger, two white LED drivers and an auxiliary ADC (analogue to digital converter), all inside a compact 7x7mm BGA package.

Jan van de Kamer, founder and vice president of product development at IREX Technologies said: “The IREX strategy is to create innovative reading solutions and the DR800SG, recently launched in the U.S., pairs a sleek design with a unique approach to purchasing and accessing content. We are constantly seeking partnerships with experts like Wolfson Microelectronics to help drive our innovations and we’re very excited to bring the high standards of power management solutions from Wolfson Microelectronics to the IREX DR800SG.”

Soon to be available in the U.S. at select Best Buy locations, and available in Europe first half of 2010, the DR800SG eReader features an 8.1 inch screen, making the display nearly twice as big as some competitive devices. 3G Wireless connectivity lets users buy books anywhere at anytime.

Agreements with NewspaperDirect and LibreDigital – two leading distributors of digital content – will give IREX users access to the most comprehensive collection of newspapers and magazines available in the eReader market, up to 1,100 more titles than currently available on some competitive devices.