- Implementation of the industry's only acoustic subsystem combining the latest digital audio processor and MEMS microphone

February 3, 2012, Seoul — STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications and a leader in audio ICs, has launched a digital audio processor for multi-microphone applications. Based on superior audio signal processing performance, outstanding scalability, and programmability, ST’s latest Smart Voice portfolio enables amazing quality sound in mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and video security systems.

The Smart Voice Audio Processor maximizes the performance of digital MEMS microphones in multi-microphone arrays, particularly when used with ST’s MEMS microphones, enabling functions such as acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, and beamforming. These capabilities are essential as consumers increasingly use mobile phones and other electronic devices in noisy and uncontrollable environments.

The combination of ST’s smart voice processor and digital MEMS microphone has created a powerful and flexible acoustic subsystem, bringing direct benefits to both equipment manufacturers and users. Manufacturers can differentiate their products while reducing costs and time-to-market by simplifying system designs, while consumers can enjoy clearer conversations and longer battery life.

In addition, ST’s latest digital audio processor, which represents a groundbreaking technological leap, is based on an optimized hard-wired acoustic processing engine that can reduce the computing load on the main application processor. It can handle up to six microphone inputs through dynamic array reconfiguration and designated channel processing. This device integrates a tunable 10-band equalizer, a peak limiter, and gain and volume controls, as well as a high-quality, scalable acoustic processing core. Data is output via a digital (I2S) or analog (PWM) interface.

ST's Smart Voice Processor comes with AP Workbench, a user-friendly programming tool designed to perfectly deliver high-end sound input applications all at once, along with ST's MEMS microphones and Sound Terminal Class D audio amplifiers.

The STA321MPL, the first product launched in ST's smart voice portfolio, is currently being sampled. Mass production is planned for the second quarter of 2012, and it is priced at US$4 per unit for orders of 1,000. Consultations regarding bulk orders are available through ST sales offices.