ToolStick Evaluation Kit for Precision32™ MCUs Reduces the Cost and
Complexity of Adding Voice, Sound Clips and Streaming Audio
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced a cost-effective
USB-based evaluation kit that enables developers to add digital Class D
audio capabilities to 32-bit embedded designs based on Silicon Labs'
feature-rich SiM3U1xx Precision32™ microcontrollers (MCUs). The new
Class D ToolStick kit demonstrates how easy and economical it is to
upgrade basic "buzzer/beeper" alert sounds used in personal medical
devices, fitness equipment, high-end toys, small appliances and other
consumer electronics products to more sophisticated voice prompts,
music, sound clips and even streaming audio.
Silicon Labs' highly integrated SiM3U1xx MCUs are well suited for
digital Class D power amplification applications without the hassle and
expense of adding discrete Class D amplifiers. The SiM3U1xx MCUs include
a 300 mA high-drive I/O capable of directly driving a small speaker, a
crystal-less USB transceiver compatible with the USB audio interface,
two 250 ksps 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and an I2S
receiver that supports audio streaming from a PC, a portable music
player or a wide range of I2S-enabled audio devices. The only external
components required to drive Class D audio from SiM3U1xx MCUs are
inexpensive inductors, some capacitors and ferrite beads.
In addition to supporting Class D audio capabilities, the new ToolStick
also enables developers to add capacitive touch buttons and sliders to
their 32-bit embedded systems or use the SiM3U1xx MCU's high-drive I/Os
with pulse-width modulation (PWM) to directly drive other components
such as small motors, eliminating the need for separate power
field-effect transistors (FETs).
The Class D ToolStick board is powered from USB using the SiM3U1xx MCU's
internal 5 V regulator, and it can play music from a stereo jack, a
computer or a recorded message using a simple speaker. The Class D
ToolStick provides four modes of operation: sampling data from a
portable music player using the MCU's on-chip ADCs, USB audio streaming
from a PC, playing pre-recorded sound clips stored from on-chip flash
memory using a common audio compression algorithm, and a voice recorder
that stores data in flash using an audio compression algorithm.
Developers can easily handle mode transition through capacitive touch
buttons and control volume with a capacitive touch slider.
The Class D ToolStick evaluation kit comes complete with hardware Gerber
files and software to streamline the process of adding Class D audio to
embedded applications. In addition, the ToolStick can serve as a
cost-effective, general-purpose development platform for Precision32
MCUs. It features a built-in USB-based debugger/programming interface
and accessible pins for easy prototyping. The Class D ToolStick debug
interface is fully operational with Silicon Labs' complimentary
Precision32 IDE, compiler and AppBuilder crossbar configuration
software, as well as Keil tool chains.
"Audio feedback provides developers with a useful, cost-effective and
appealing way to differentiate their embedded products in today's
competitive market," said Keith Odland, director of marketing for
Silicon Labs' microcontroller products. "With our new Class D ToolStick,
developers can quickly and easily add Class D audio capabilities and
capacitive touch buttons and sliders to any 32-bit embedded product
using Silicon Labs' SiM3U1xx MCUs."
Pricing and Availability
The Class D ToolStick evaluation kit is available now and priced at $35
(USD MSRP). The kit includes full source code and implements a Class D
amplifier demonstration using a small-footprint 40-pin 6 mm x 6 mm
package SiM3U1xx MCU.
For more information and to order Silicon Labs' Class D ToolStick
evaluation kit, please visit http://www.silabs.com/pr/toolstickclassd.
For additional Precision32 MCU product information, samples and other
development tools, visit www.silabs.com/pr/32bit-mcu.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of patented semiconductor
solutions offers customers significant advantages in performance, size
and power consumption. For more information about Silicon Labs, please
visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Source: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
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