Nuvoton Introduces First Audio SoC with ARM Technology

New ChipCorder ISD9160 Brings 32-bit ARM Cortex Performance to Wide Range of Industrial, Consumer Audio Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Dec. 20, 2011 -- Nuvoton Technology Corp., a leading worldwide provider of semiconductors for consumer and computing applications, today introduced the ChipCorder® ISD9160 system-on-a-chip (SOC) device, the industry’s first ChipCorder to feature a 32-bit ARM® Cortex™-M0 microcontroller core. The ISD9160is designed to optimize low-power audio recording and playback in a range of demanding industrial applications, such as portable medical devices, security systems, and public transit vehicles, as well as consumer designs, including wireless audio, capacitive button sensing for touch panels, home appliances, toys, and novelty items.

With a Cortex-M0 core running at up to 50MHz,sophisticated power-management features, embedded Flash and SRAM memory, real-time clock (RTC) control, and multiple general-purpose IOs (GPIOs), the ISD9160 enables designers to develop systems and individual products capable of delivering clear, reliable, easily managed audio recording and playback. The latest entry in Nuvoton’s renowned ChipCorder line, the ISD9160 also simplifies products’ design time and reduces bill-of-materials costs; the chip’s highly integrated architecture eliminates the need for various periphery chips.

The ISD9160, as with several other members of Nuvoton’s ChipCorder line, also allows an array of consumer products to carry branding messages. This enables manufacturers to distinguish their products with high-quality digital playback of audio-grade sound alerts and corporate audio-logo clips.

“The ChipCorder ISD9160’s ARM core and highly integrated analog features makes it ideal for recording and playback, capacitive button sensing and other demanding audio applications,” said Farid Noory, senior product marketing manager at Nuvoton. “Its architecture assures manufacturers spanning multiple industrial and consumer market segments that they’re designing with a SoC with all the essential features for economical yet powerful audio-based products.”

The ISD9160 incorporates several audio interfaces – microphone, speaker driver and I 2S – and eight analog GPIOs for capacitive sensing and analog functions. It also features five power-saving modes that enable the device to operate under differing voltage allowances, making it ideal for portable/battery-powered products. Taking advantage of the Cortex-M0’s processing engine, the ISD9160 also enables applications with CPU-intensive features, such as voice recognition, audio/voice prompting, and extended recording/playback.

The ARM Cortex-M0 in the ISD9160 delivers 32-bit performance and low power consumption, but at a price point of an 8-bit microcontroller. Its 32-bit architecture enables designers to develop complicated algorithms such as voice recognition, text-to-speech and capacitive sensing – applications that at one time required DSPs and/or other high-end, ARM-based devices.

ISD9160 Highlights

• ARM Cortex-M0 core (up to 50MHz)
• Power management (wide voltage range; four levels of power control; sub- μ A deep-power-down, wake-up, standby with RTC <6 μ A, processor sleep modes)
• On-chip memory (145K Flash, 12K SRAM)
• Clock control ( 48/32MHz built-in trimmed and ultra-low power 10kHz oscillators, 32 kHz RTC crystal interface)
• GPIOs (four IO modes, selectable input, switchable pull-up)
• Analog-to-digital converter (16-bit output, 80dB signal-to-noise ratio, programmable-gain and microphone-boost amplifiers and programmable bi-quad filter)
• Differential audio output (Class-D direct speaker driver delivers 1watt in to an 8ohm speaker at 5V)
• Automatic level control (programmable gain/boost amplifiers up to 61dB, microphone- and speaker-sharing for BOM reduction)
• Timers (two, with 8-bit pre-scaler and 24-bit resolution)
• Watch dog timer (configurable on/off setting, multiple clock sources, and eight selectable time-out periods)
• RTC counter (alarm registers, selectable 12- or 24-hour mode, automatic leap year recognition
• Hardware cyclic redundancy check, or CRC (for detecting and correcting errors in wireless audio transmission)
• Ports (UART, SPI, I 2C, I 2C)
• Optional external memory interfaces (SPI Flash, SD card)
• Wide application range ( portable medical devices such as talking glucose meters, glass-break sensors for security systems, voice prompting in public transit vehicles, wireless microphones and baby monitors, capacitive button sensing for touch panels, voice prompting/alerts in home appliances, voice commands in talking toys, key fob recording, branded novelty items)

Pricing, Availability

The ISD9160 is sampling now, with production scheduled for early Q4’11, and priced at $2.50 in volume.

About Nuvoton Technology

Nuvoton Technology Corp. was established as a spin-out of Winbond Electronics’ Logic business group, starting operation in July, 2008 and IPO in September, 2010. Nuvoton Technology focuses on the R&D and sales in logic ICs, and leads in global market shares of speech ICs and computer related application ICs. Nuvoton owns a six-inch wafer fab, featuring in special niche process. Besides in-house IC products, the wafer fab also provides part of its capacity for foundry services. Nuvoton Technology provides high cost performance products for its customers by means of flexible technology innovation capabilities, full product solutions and excellent integration of technology synergy. Nuvoton offers superior services based on existing solid foundation and continues to realize its vision: "Be an indispensable partner to industry leaders." Nuvoton values the long-term relationship with its partners and customers; the company has established subsidiaries in the USA, China and Israel to strengthen regional customer support and global management. For more information, please visit www.nuvoton.com.