AES CONVENTION, AMSTERDAM -- May 18, 1998 -- At the Audio Engineering Society Convention (AES), the Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic, Inc. ((NASDAQ:CRUS)today announced a complete, system-in-a-chip solution, the CS4912 device, targeted at cost-sensitive digital audio applications. The CS4912 integrates five previously separate components into a single piece of silicon: a 24-bit digital signal processor (DSP); RAM for program and data storage; a phase-locked loop (PLL) clock generator; a digital audio transmitter port; and a stereo CD-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

By combining functionality previously found on separate silicon devices into a single chip, the Crystal CS4912 offers significant economies in silicon, packaging, pin count, board interconnect area, assembly and test over multi-chip solutions. This makes possible a further reduction of manufacturing costs for audio DSP applications in auto, TV and mini-component systems.

"With its level of integration, the CS4912 is essentially a complete audio processing system-in-a-chip," said John Paulos, vice president of Audio Products at Cirrus Logic's Crystal Semiconductor Products Division. "We are providing the system manufacturer with a cost-effective solution for a variety of cost-sensitive audio DSP applications, that also offers design feature flexibility as well as a rapidly implemented, low-cost system upgrade path. This allows audio manufacturers to differentiate their product offerings. Integrated chips such as the CS4912 will help manufacturers continue to profitably deliver quality products at lower and lower retail prices."

Multiple-Application Flexibility

This new offering leverages Cirrus Logic's established success in providing DSP-based audio processors and multi-standard decoders for set-top box and home theater applications. Functionality and feature design flexibility for the OEM is derived from DSP microcode modules developed by the audio experts from Cirrus Logic's Crystal Semiconductor Products Division. For a specific application, the required audio microcode modules are loaded into the device's on-chip RAM. For automotive applications, for instance, the CS4912 is loaded with DSP microcode containing functions such as active crossover filters, dynamic range compression and peak-level limiting, parametric or graphic equalizers, and multiple-speaker time alignment. For television and hi-fi mini-component applications, Cirrus Logic provides DSP microcode for Dolby Pro Logic decoding with Virtual Surround processing, which allows effective surround sound playback on two-speaker systems.

Systems containing the CS4912 can be easily reconfigured to provide a different set of features by simply changing the microcode residing in the on-board RAM. This allows OEMs to tailor their systems to provide unique feature sets by choosing the Crystal library of DSP firmware for specific applications and markets, without hardware redesign or re-engineering, therefore reducing risk and engineering time and costs.

Enabling Market Segments to Transition from Analog to Digital

The CS4912 provides a DSP-based audio signal processing capability which offers performance and feature set advantages over analog solutions. For example, effective virtual surround processing and high-quality speaker time alignment are impractical to implement in analog circuitry, but become economically viable when offered as digital solutions. The CS4912's system-level integration offers a strong price/performance motivation for a transition from analog to digital audio signal processing in several consumer audio market segments.

Additional Product Features and Benefits

Unlike fixed-function ROM solutions, the CS4912's on-chip program RAM permits more design flexibility, minimizes engineering costs and reduces inventory management. The CS4912's off-the-shelf, DSP microcode configurations also minimize design time, prototyping and other development costs as well as reduce the risks associated with designing DSP algorithms from scratch.

The CS4912 provides flexible interfaces to allow connection of an external microcontroller and supplementary A/D and D/A converters such as the CS5330 ADC, the CS4333 DAC, or the CS4222 codec.

Packaging, Pricing and Availability

The Crystal CS4912, packaged in a 44-pin PLCC, is available in production volumes now. The device is priced below $7.00 in 100K quantities.

The Crystal Semiconductor Products Division of Cirrus Logic designs, manufactures, and markets advanced analog and digital integrated circuits for data acquisition, consumer/professional audio and video, and imaging applications. The Crystal brand is recognized for providing high-performance mixed-signal and signal processing solutions for consumer and industrial markets. For the latest Crystal product information contact a Cirrus Logic representative or visit www.cirrus.com

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer electronics markets as well as ultra-precision data acquisition applications for industrial automation and instrumentation markets.

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Note to editors: Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.