Wideband audio processor enables greater audio clarity

The ZL38040 integrates a powerful DSP with voice specific hardware accelerators, three digital microphone interfaces, two independent 16-bit DACs with headphone drivers and two flexible TDM interfaces. Able to operate without a controller, the audio processor features 44.1/48kHz stereo music playback with voice, ultra-low and standby off power and stationary and psychoacoustic noise reduction. It also provides built-in support for G.712 and G.722 and is G.168 and G.169 compliant line echo cancellation.

Powered by Microsemi’s AcuEdge acoustic technology, the ZL38040 allows significantly more audio information to be transmitted while blocking interfering signals such as echo and background noise. Comprised of license-free, royalty-free audio IP solutions, AcuEdge technology includes various intellectual properties targeted at processing voice signals in conjunction with noise reduction algorithms, automatic gain control, echo cancellation, psychoacoustic noise reduction, howling detection and rejection. These functions enable enterprise level automatic speech recognition, sound classification and other intelligent decision-making functions based on sound and audio detection.

Roger Holliday, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Communications Product Group, Microsemi, comments: “Our second-generation family of voice processing solutions takes our AcuEdge acoustic technology to the next level, catering to today’s most demanding enterprise hands-free and voice market applications. These world-class solutions bring significant feature benefits to the emerging hands-free audio/voice market, enabling designers to develop pioneering applications that perform reliable communication based on audio intelligence.”

“Microsemi’s AcuEdge acoustic solutions will enable OEMs developing new hands-free audio- and voice-related products to build advanced IP phones that meet the exact requirements of enterprise applications for high-quality voice and video,” added Diane Myers, Principal Analyst, Infonetics Research.

Supplied in a 64-pin QFN package, the ZL38040 Timberwolf audio processor is available now. Microsemi also offers a comprehensive development package to accelerate customers’ time-to-market via a validated reference design and easy-to-use tools.