Acoustic Technologies Noise Reduction and Echo Cancellation Software Now Available on Maxim's MAX98095 Based on Tensilica's HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs

Update: Cadence Completes Acquisition of Tensilica (Apr 24, 2013)

Ideal for Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, and Speakerphones

Mesa, AZ, and Santa Clara, CA - February 13, 2012 -Acoustic Technologies, Inc. and Tensilica, Inc., today announced that Acoustic Technologies' SoundClear Mobile Voice 2-mic noise elimination and echo cancellation software has been ported to Tensilica's HiFi Audio DSPs (digital signal processors), the leading audio/voice DSP IP cores. It has already been implemented on Maxim Integrated Products' Flexsound processor, which includes Tensilica technology, and is commercially available on Maxim's MAX98095, a member of the company's family of TINI CODECs developed for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other audio and voice-enabled devices. Tensilica and Acoustic Technologies will be demonstrating their joint audio solution, using the MAX98095, at Tensilica's booth, #1F39 at the Mobile World Congress, February 27 - March 1, in Barcelona, Spain.

"We implemented Acoustic Technologies' SoundClear Mobile Voice on our FlexSound processor, so our customers are able to provide consumers with unprecedented voice quality in mobile products, including comprehensive noise and echo cancellation," stated Todd Moore, Director of Business Development within Maxim's Audio Solutions Group. "Our silicon and system knowledge, combined with technology from Acoustic Technologies and Tensilica, provide our customers with a competitive advantage, based on voice quality, power consumption and time-to-market."

SoundClear Mobile Voice features proprietary ASSIST (Auditory Scene Sensing and Intelligent Sound Tracking) noise elimination. This intelligent 2-mic technology maintains pristine voice quality, delivers lightning fast noise adaptation and significantly improves SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) by up to 35 dB in noisy circumstances commonly encountered by mobile users such as loud restaurants, busy streets, subways, or sporting arenas. Combined with a robust echo canceller, SoundClear Mobile Voice delivers high-quality full-duplex, echo free operation during both handset and speakerphone modes. SoundClear Mobile Voice has been tested and approved for use by leading mobile phone manufacturers worldwide and is currently being designed into smartphone and tablet products for release in 2012.

Tensilica's HiFi Audio DSPs are the leading audio/voice DSP IP cores, licensed by over 40 customers including five of the top 10 semiconductor manufacturers and many leading system OEMs. The HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs support over 90 audio/voice software packages with very efficient processing at low power. The HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs are part of Tensilica's growing line of dataplane processors (DPUs) that efficiently do the challenging, compute-intensive tasks in SOC designs.

"The leading Tensilica HiFi DSP engine offers the combination of an efficient and powerful architecture along with robust and well supported development tools," stated Bob Ackmann, CEO of Acoustic Technologies, Inc. "SoundClear Mobile Voice for the Maxim MAX98095 offers the breakthrough performance of our 2-mic noise elimination on a powerful platform ideal for smartphones and tablets."

"SoundClear Mobile Voice is very effective at enhancing the voice experience in noisy environments," stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica's senior director of multimedia marketing. "It is optimized for minimal power dissipation, an essential feature for smartphones, tablets and other battery-powered devices."

About Acoustic Technologies

Acoustic Technologies creates high quality mobile and hands-free audio processing software for leading consumer electronics companies.  The SoundClear brand of patented full-duplex communication, echo cancellation, noise elimination, and music enhancement solutions is enabling significant advancements in mobile and hands-free audio quality and is proven in over 50 million products around the globe.  SoundClear provides natural, clear audio for smartphones, tablets, laptops, portable speakerphones, Bluetooth headsets, in car communication systems, and GPS navigation devices.   Visit www.acoustictech.com for additional information.

About Tensilica

Tensilica, Inc. is the leader in dataplane processor IP cores. Dataplane processors (DPUs) combine the best capabilities of DSPs and CPUs while delivering 10 to 100x the performance because they can be optimized using Tensilica's automated design tools to meet specific and demanding signal processing performance targets. Tensilica's DPUs power SOC designs at system OEMs and seven out of the top 10 semiconductor companies for designs in mobile wireless, telecom and network infrastructure, computing and storage, and home and auto entertainment. For more information on Tensilica's patented, benchmark-proven DPUs visit www.tensilica.com.

About Maxim Integrated Products

Maxim makes highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Maxim reported revenue of approximately $2.5 billion for fiscal 2011. For more information, go to www.Maxim-ic.com.