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Leading designer and manufacturer of high
performance analog ICs, austriamicrosystems,
has extended back the frontiers of portable
multimedia product design with the launch
of an ultra-integrated chip within a chipscale
package of just 9x9 mm.
The newest and most powerful member of
austriamicrosystems'
Portable Audio product family, the analog
front-end AS3517 packs power and playback
features into a tiny form-factor that not
only minimises the need for external components
but also slashes bill of material costs.
Leveraging austriamicrosystems'
more than 20 years of analog design expertise,
the new AS3517 chip incorporates 11 voltage
converters and regulators, a Lithium battery
charger and a CD quality audio codec. There
are 12 programmable amplifiers for headphones,
analog line signals and microphones and
a realtime clock.
"The AS3517 is the most highly integrated
solution available today. It provides all
of the audio and power management functionality
that is required in products like music-enabled
mobile phones, MP3 music players, digital
audio and video broadcast receivers, PDAs
and other portable music devices while simultaneously
reducing the costs involved in manufacturing,"
said John Heugle, CEO of austriamicrosystems.
An innovative analog design makes the AS3517
the world's first solution to combine Lithium
battery management, hard disk drive power
supply and CD quality audio on the same
chip, without compromising its excellent
performance either in the power management
or in the audio subsystem.
A unique layout and proven production technology
combine to deliver power management efficiency
of over 90% and audio performance in excess
of 94dB SNR. AS3517-based demonstration
boards that deliver on these performance
promises are available now.
"The AS3517 includes advanced functionalities
designed to support the legitimate desire
of rights holders to protect their intellectual
property. We have built-in hardware provisions
for music Digital Rights Management, and
numerous other functional blocks that can
be used to safeguard copyrighted material
without compromising the listening experience
of the end-user," said Alexander Harrer,
Sr. V.P. and General Manager of the Communications
business unit at austriamicrosystems.
A number of large organisations producing
well-known MP3 brand names already have
product designs based on the AS3517 under
way. Production ramp-up is scheduled for
summer 2005, and a number of portable music
devices with the austriamicrosystems
AS3517 chip inside will be in the shops
ready for the Christmas season.
austriamicrosystems
as a proven supplier to the mobile communications
industry has already delivered over 50 million
pieces of combined audio and power management
chips over the last three years.
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems
is a leading designer and manufacturer of
high performance analog ICs, combining more
than 20 years of analog design capabilities
and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art
manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems
leverages its expertise in low power and
high accuracy to provide industry-leading
customized and standard analog products.
Operating worldwide with more than 800 employees,
austriamicrosystems
focuses on the areas of power management,
sensors & sensor interfaces, portable
audio and car access through its business
units Communications, Industry & Medical,
Automotive and Full Service Foundry. austriamicrosystems
is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich
(ticker symbol: AMS). |
