Edinburgh, UK - 29 January 2007 - Wolfson Microelectronics plc (LSE:WLF.L) has introduced a family of multi-channel CODECs (WM8593, WM8594 and WM8599) for Flat Panel Television (FP-TV) applications. A unique system allows the routing of a wide range of analogue and digital audio signals through the devices, whilst simultaneously utilising the two fully independent high quality stereo DACs and stereo ADC. The WM8593 integrates a digital audio multiplexer supporting five digital channels to reduce interface requirements on the FP-TV host processor. This means that one device can be the central routing point for all audio signals, both analogue and digital. The new devices allow multiple markets to be served with a common hardware platform, as well as reducing board size and design overheads.

The WM8593, WM8594 and WM8599 each implement 4 channels of high-performance audio DAC, 2 channels of ADC, SCART switching with support for 2Vrms inputs and outputs and low-pin-count packages providing hardware power-down, mute and reset inputs. All of the new ICs operate from 3.3V and 9V supplies, eliminating the need for designers to implement discrete circuitry to drive and receive 2Vrms audio signals. 

The WM8593 supports eight stereo input channels and three stereo output channels, providing the maximum routing flexibility by allowing any analogue input signal to be routed to any output. This routing flexibility is derived from the devices integrated ADC multiplexer and PGA input multiplexer, as well as two independent stereo DACs which are capable of routing inputs from any digital source to any of the WM8593s integrated Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGAs). The WM8593 provides an integrated digital audio multiplexer, supporting five groups of digital signals and allowing flexible routing of multiple digital audio sources received via HDMI, memory card or S/PDIF inputs. The WM8593 is delivered in a 64-pin TQFP, reducing the design effort involved in creating new FP-TV products by condensing multiple discrete devices and extensive PCB routing into a single device.

The WM8594 supports five stereo audio inputs, three audio outputs and fixed digital routing, delivering a lower-cost option in a 48-pin TQFP package. Audio performance is the same as that of the WM8593, including low total harmonic distortion (THD), high signal to noise ratio (SNR) and wide bandwidth. THD and SNR for the ADCs is -85dB and 100dB respectively, supporting bandwidths between 32kHz-96kHz, whilst corresponding performance for the DACs is -90dB, 100dB, and 32kHz-192kHz.

The WM8599 provides low-cost routing for cost-sensitive markets, and matches the high audio performance specification of the WM8593. It supports five stereo input channels and three stereo output channels, and features a common interface for the two on-chip DACs, fixed digital routing and a 48-pin TQFP package.

The three new devices are designed with compatible register maps, which reduce software design effort when scaling FP-TV designs to support extra channels and features to match market expectations and price levels.

Price and Availability
The devices are available for sampling now. The WM8593 is priced at $2.56, the WM8594 is priced at $2.15 and the WM8599 is priced at $2.08, in quantities of 10,000.

About Wolfson Microelectronics
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a leading global provider of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductors for digital consumer electronics applications.

Renowned worldwide for its audio and imaging technologies, Wolfson devices can be found at the heart of many of the world’s highest profile consumer products, including mobile phones, MP3 players, gaming consoles, DVD players, DVD-RW, LCD-TV and multi-function peripherals. If a digital product can capture an image or play a sound, Wolfson’s vision is to supply a product that will allow it to perform these tasks better.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, UK, Wolfson has sales and engineering offices in the USA, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore. Wolfson Microelectronics plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WLF.L).

For more information about Wolfson Microelectronics, please visit www.wolfsonmicro.com or sign up for Wolfson eNews at http://www.wolfsonmicro.com/enews/.