14 DAY TRIAL // ST-Ericsson, a worldwide leading developer of innovative mobile platforms, announced today the release of its latest high-quality audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) aimed at the mobile music market, dubbed Stw5211, which comes as proof of the company's strength in analog and mixed-signal process technology area.
The new Stw5211 includes the innovative Playback Time Extender (PTE) processing technology developed by the company, as well as 102dB signal-to-noise ratio across the entire audio path. OEMs are offered the possibility to develop music-oriented mobile phones that would be able to provide users with the “highest levels of audio quality.”
In addition, says the company, the new mobile audio chip is also able to provide extended playback time, doubling today’s existing typical 10-hour period. The Stw5211 is available as a single-chip solution that sports an ultra-small, wafer-level chip scale package, proving to be the most integrated and cost-effective audio solution on the market.
“STw5211 was developed to address increasing demand for mobile music handsets with both higher audio quality and longer playback time,” said Monica de Virgiliis, vice president, Wireless Multimedia Group, ST-Ericsson. “Typically, power consumption increases as features are enhanced and quality improved; however, STw5211 with PTE technology allows music to be played autonomously while the rest of the platform is switched into a power-saving state. This results in a substantial increase in battery life without any compromise in audio quality for the consumer.”
Among the key features of the new STw5211 we can count 102dB SNR audio quality, integrated PTE technology for extended playback, 66dB THD, 8 to 192kHz sample rate conversion, 32kHz RTC clock-only operationSystem clock generator, and the ultra-small 2.6 x 2.6mm footprint, requiring a few external components.
ST-Ericsson also says that the STw5211 mobile audio chip comes with a high level of integration due to a leading-edge 0.13-micron analog CMOS process. It is able to operate with a minimal bill of materials (BOM) in a small 2.6 x 2.6mm WLCSP package, while including a power management circuitry and being directly connected to the battery so as to eliminate the necessity of external voltage regulators. At the same time, it comes with a “true ground” type of headset amplifier and does not need coupling capacitors.