Top Stories National Semiconductor Introduces Industry's First Stereo Audio Subsystem with both Digital and Audio Inputs Improved Stereo Audio Sound in a Miniature Package National Semiconductor have released the Boomer® stereo audio subsystem, the industry’s first subsystem to incorporate both digital and analog input paths for multimedia, smart and voice-over-Internet procotol (VoIP) phones. National’s Boomer audio power amplifiers provide high-quality output power with a minimal number of external components. “Cell phone manufacturers use a combination of digital and analog sources in their designs,” said Mike Polacek, vice president of National Semiconductor’s Audio group. “For example, the output of an MP3 decoder may be digital, while an FM radio module’s output may be analog. This flexibility, combined with the on-chip features, helps engineers save components, board space, cost and design time.” The LM4934 audio subsystem integrates audio amplifiers, volume control, a mixer, power management control and National’s 3D stereo sound-enhancement technology into a new, 3.3 mm by 3.9 mm, 42-bump micro SMDxt package. The 3D capability makes it easier for listeners to hear music more clearly through the phone by broadening the sound field of the closely placed speakers. The LM4934 offers an I2S digital input and three analog inputs, which eliminate the need for an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a multiplexer integrated circuit. Operating on a 3.3V supply, the single-chip LM4934 combines a stereo speaker amplifier delivering 500 mW typical per channel into an 8-Ohm load and a stereo headphone amplifier delivering 30 mW typical per channel into a 32-Ohm load. The chip features a 25 mW mono earpiece output and a separate line out to drive external audio devices. The on-board phased-lock loop (PLL) simplifies the customer’s selection of a clock frequency (from 8 MHz to 24 MHz) and saves cost by eliminating the need for an external crystal oscillator. The entire chip is controlled through 25 separate I2C compatible registers for maximum flexibility of routing inputs and outputs through the two-wire interface. In addition, the LM4934 routes and mixes the stereo and mono inputs into multiple, distinct output modes using a simple I2C compatible interface. The company's Web site address is http://www.national.com/. [Reprinted with kind permission from National Semiconductor]

 HeadLines

New High-Performance MEMS Microphones New 6-channel Touch Controller with Integral LED Driver New 2.4GHz FCC-Certified Transceiver Module New Technology to Maximize Solar Energy Output New Ultra Low-Power Microcontrollers from Freescale Holtek Releases New USB Audio Microcontroller

 Other Stories
NXP's New Low Power Real Time Clock
New Fast-Charge Multi-Cell Battery Charger Controller
New More Powerful Multi-Message Voice Record and Playback Chip
New High Performance Advanced 8-bit Core SMT8S Microcontroller
New ZigBee Network Processor
New Microchip 18-pin 16-bit Microcontroller
Atmel Releases New picoPower AVR's
New High-Precision Programmable Gain Amplifier
New 802.11n WLAN Module
New Smart Motion Sensor
New RF Transceiver for ZigBee™ Protocol
New 8051 Microcontrollers with USB
Industry’s First 100V Current-Mode Buck Controller
New ARM7 Microcontroller with LCD Support
Real-Time Clock with Crystal
New Low-Power DSP with USB
New Intelligent Motor Control Solutions
New GPS Chipset
New LED Drivers
New Wireless USB Controller
New Class-D Amplifier for Portable Consumer Electronics
New High-Frequency 8 and 16Mb Serial Flash Memories
New Miniature Microcontroller from Freescale
New Microchip C Compiler
New Atmel High-Speed ATTiny's
New PoE Device for use in IP Phones, Security Cameras,
New Design Guide for Instrumentation Amplifiers
New ST7 Software Upgrade
Freescale's New Energy Efficient Lighting System
First Audio Subsystem with Analog and Digital Inputs
First 40MHz PIC Microcontroller
New Atmel tinyAVR Microcontrollers
New PIC12F508 and PIC12F509 Microcontroller's
New 95% Efficient Miniature DC-DC Converter
New MP3 Microcontroller
New Three Phase Energy Measurement IC
Motorola Releases New Flash Microcontroller Range
New Digital Radio Chipset Offering Improved Reception and Performance
New Headphone Amp from ST with 110db Signal to Noise Ratio
TI's New 16-Bit Converter with Six ADC's In One Package