ST-Ericsson takes on Wolfson in DACs

The newly formed joint venture ST-Ericsson has launched its first product, a igh-quality audio digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) that aims to take on devices from Wolfson Microelectronics in the mobile music market.
The STw5211 combines ST-Ericsson’s Playback Time Extender (PTE) processing technology with 102dB signal-to-noise ratio through the whole audio path, allowing OEMs to build music phones with high audio quality and double today’s typical 10-hour playback time and comes in a 2.6mm x 2.6mm wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP). By incorporating the power management circuitry, the device can be directly connected to the battery with no need for external voltage regulators. Additionally, the headset amplifier is of “true ground” type and does not need coupling capacitors.
“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 at the Wireless Multimedia Group at 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.”
Volume production of the STw5211, built in 130nm, is planned for August 2009, with samples available in April.
Key features:

· 102dB SNR audio quality

· Integrated PTE technology for extended playback

· 66dB THD

· 8 to 192kHz sample rate conversion

· 32kHz RTC clock-only operation

· System clock generator

· Ultra-small 2.6 x 2.6mm footprint, requiring few external components