Conexant and Nu Horizons announce design wins for audio-enabled products

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Conexant Systems Inc., a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications, and Nu Horizons Electronics Corp., a leading global distributor of advanced technology semiconductors, display, illumination, power, system, and telecom solutions, have jointly secured multiple audio design-wins for intercoms, kiosks, and home automation applications.

These new products are all based on Conexant’s family of award-winning speakers-on-a-chip audio solutions, which feature proprietary technical innovations that significantly improve audio and voice quality.

“In the growing embedded audio segment, we leverage our extensive expertise in audio and voice algorithms to deliver high-performance solutions for products that require audio and voice functionality,” said Lou Ganci, vice president of Americas sales for Conexant. “Collaborating with Nu Horizons’ sales and technical teams during the last year has allowed us to penetrate a broader customer base in this emerging segment, and respond more quickly to customer requests. We will continue to concentrate on capturing new platforms with Nu Horizons, and building on the success we have achieved to date.”

“Helping our customers get to market faster with better, more cost-effective solutions is a top priority for us,” said Rita Megling, senior vice president of marketing for Nu Horizons. “Working with the Conexant team ensures our customers have the semiconductor solutions and support required to maximize the success of their products.”

Conexant’s highly integrated speakers-on-a-chip audio solutions include an integrated digital audio/voice processor multi-bit codec, digital and analog input/output interfaces, and a Class-D amplifier to drive stereo speakers or optional pulse-width modulation and differential line-out for external speaker system amplifiers.

These innovative devices are targeted at growing audio opportunities in intercoms, kiosks, multimedia IP phones, personal navigation devices, portable media players, and mobile Internet devices. The speakers-on-a-chip devices are also well-suited for products including PC speaker systems, audio headsets, and voice-over-IP telephony applications. The audio chips are offered in a wide variety of configurations and, depending on the feature-set, support advanced features including:

BrightSound: A comprehensive suite of parametric equalization, dynamic range compression, and digital crossover algorithms that optimize speaker frequency response, boost loudness without clipping, and match speakers for up to 2.5 watt channel configuration.

Sub-band acoustic and line echo cancellation: Eliminates speaker-to-microphone feedback and echo from twisted-pair crossover, and enables the capture of a broader range of voice signals resulting in more natural sounding speech.

Noise reduction: Suppresses ambient near- and far-end sound, which improves voice clarity by eliminating interfering speech and background noise.

Nu Horizons is Conexant’s exclusive distributor in North America and Mexico. The company distributes Conexant’s entire line of imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance devices, as well as complete evaluation kits and reference designs to further simplify and speed product design-efforts.