Codec architecture reduces power consumption

The N681386 supports one Foreign Exchange Station (FXS), combining programmable Codec, SLCC and DC-to-DC controller on a single CMOS circuit.

Pin-to-pin-compatible N681387 adds wideband capability (16 kHz) operation, offering VoIP audio advantages over traditional telephony systems.

The Codecs feature a new architecture designed to reduce power consumption across all operation states - particularly in the on-hook state - by as much as 65 per cent of the previous generation.

This reduction enables designers to develop more energy-conscious customer premises equipment with longer battery lifetimes.

Additionally, the architecture distributes temperature evenly across the design, ensuring that no hot spots develop within end-user systems, keeping the complete FXS solution below 30C for a typical configuration - even in demanding operating mode.

As a result, Nuvoton Technology claimed designers struggling to incorporate FXS ports into products with minimal ventilation will realise significant advantages by using the N681386 or N681387.

These advantages are said to have been achieved without sacrificing audio performance.

Nuvoton's audio performance benchmarks include typical idle channel noise as low as 4dBRNC and typical return loss of 40dB, which directly translate into good voice quality test scores for end-user systems.

The N681386 and N681387's introduction will be followed by two more members of Nuvoton's Codecs: the N682386 and N682387.

The N682386 and N682387 provide narrowband and wideband operation, respectively, and support two FXS ports each.

All four devices can operate with an external low-cost discrete front end or be combined with Nuvoton's forthcoming N681622 subscriber line feed circuit device, which will integrate all front-end transistors into a single low-cost package.