ST-Ericsson's next-generation mobile audio chip

MUMBAI, INDIA: Building on its strengths in analog and mixed-signal process technology, ST-Ericsson announced its latest high-quality audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for the mobile music market.

The STw5211 combines ST-Ericsson’s innovative Playback Time Extender (PTE) processing technology with 102dB signal-to-noise ratio through the whole audio path, allowing OEMs to build music phones with the highest levels of audio quality and double today’s typical 10-hour playback time. Available as a single-chip solution in an ultra-small, wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP), STw5211 is the market’s most integrated and cost-effective audio solution to boost playback time.

“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, Wireless Multimedia Group, 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.”

STw5211 further extends ST-Ericsson’s wide portfolio of audio solutions with enhanced performance. Volume production of STw5211 is planned for August 2009, with samples available in April.