Chipidea Introduces Industry's First Class D Audio Driver IP for Portable Consumer Applications

Low-Power Design Optimized to Extend Battery Life in System-on-Chip Designs Down to 65nm Process Node 


LISBON, Portugal, Dec. 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chipidea, the Analog Business Group of MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIPS), today introduced the industry's first Class D Audio Driver intellectual property (IP) specifically designed for system-on-chip (SoC) devices manufactured in process nodes down to 65nm. Chipidea's analog/mixed-signal Class D Audio Driver IP addresses the explosive growth of markets for portable consumer audio devices including MP3 players, smart phones with integrated audio capability, handheld GPS systems and others where the requisite integrated audio feature set and demand for extended battery life continue to challenge both IC designers and end-product manufacturers.

Offering energy-efficient audio amplification, Class D amplifiers were previously used primarily in large electronic devices including televisions and stationary audio amplifiers. According to research firm Gartner, Inc., the market for Class D amplifiers will register a compound annual growth rate of 15.6% from 2006 to 2011, rising from $334 million to $688 million. This growth will be driven largely by increased usage in portable equipment and space-constrained consumer electronics.

Based on this increasing demand, Chipidea identified these devices as a market opportunity for advanced SoC designs in the portable audio space. Chipidea leveraged its proven expertise in analog/mixed-signal IP for mobile audio applications to develop the new IP, helping to drive broader usage of the Class D architecture in emerging portable consumer applications.

"Because of its integration capability, Chipidea's Class D Audio Driver IP offers extended flexibility for designers of today's advanced SoCs," said Joao Risques, audio product line manager of Chipidea's Audio and Power Solutions Division. "Depending on their integration challenges, customers can implement the IP as a standalone function or as part of an audio subsystem that can be integrated into a stereo DAC or a complete stereo audio codec. The IP is particularly well-suited for loudspeaker and headset loads, as well as line-type loads, which may ultimately serve as the basis for the next generation of Chipidea audio codecs."

Chipidea's Class D Audio Driver IP is optimized for low power consumption and longer battery life for a wide array of consumer devices. It delivers a high-quality audio experience and high performance with low risk. The integrated two-channel stereo audio driver features 1W over 4 ohm with THD