Audium introduces AS1001 audio power amplifier IC
Audium Semiconductor
AS1001 audio power amplifier IC
Audium Semiconductor has launched an audio power amplifier IC that, at normal listening levels, is claimed to be 20 times more efficient than competing devices without compromising audio quality.
The AS1001 operates from a nominal 1.5V power supply and delivers 100W peak power output.
As a result of the efficiency of the amplifier, battery-powered amplified loudspeakers can run for up to 10 months on a set of four 'C' batteries, playing for three hours per day, reducing CO2 from power generation and pollution from battery production, according to the company.
The amplifier also enables the development of smaller, cooler, mains-powered audio equipment with fewer heatsinks.
Applications include wireless speakers, home-theatre surround-sound speakers and battery-powered travel speakers.
Future Audium ICs will support MP3 docking stations and USB-powered speakers.
The AS1001 architecture uses patented techniques to minimise both fixed-power losses and output-dependant variable-power losses.
The modulation scheme uses low switching rates to minimise switching losses.
Power rail switching means that the amplifier operates efficiently from a low-voltage rail for much of the time, with a DC/DC boost converter driving higher-voltage transistors on extreme audio peaks.
More stories
Mixed-signal IC from International Rectifier gains certification for use in home appliances
International Rectifier has announced that its IRMCK171 one-time programmable ROM-based monolithic mixed-signal IC, for sensorless sinusoidal motor control of appliances, meets the standards of IMQ (Italy) Annex R of IEC 60335-1 Edition 4.2 - Class B software requirements.
ZMD offers smart sensor signal conditioner ICs for industrial pressure sensing applications
ZMD has introduced four smart-sensor signal conditioner ICs that are designed for the signal conditioning of resistive-bridge sensing elements, such as silicon or ceramic-based piezo-resistive transducers or thin-/thick-film or gauge-type sensor elements.
Advanced Micro Peripherals offers H.264 encoder designed for time-critical applications
Advanced Micro Peripherals (AMP) has introduced the H264-ULL-PMC: an ultra-low latency H.264 encoder that can capture and compress up to two analogue video inputs at up to 1080p HD resolution to the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Part 10) standard.
Saelig releases oscilloscope for circuit design, testing and troubleshooting applications
Saelig has released an entry-level mixed-signal oscilloscope, which is suitable for general-purpose analogue and digital circuit design, testing and troubleshooting applications.
Austriamicrosystems device enables secure NFC services to be introduced to consumers
Austriamicrosystems has introduced the first demonstration that enables NFC (near field communication) data transfer on removable secure elements using a micro-antenna design.
