Edinburgh, UK, January 26th 2010 – Wolfson Microelectronics (LSE:WLF.L), today announces the launch of the WM8912, the world-leading ultra low power DAC designed to significantly extend playback time, reduce system cost and dramatically enhance audio performance in portable applications, including media players, headsets, multimedia phones and navigation devices.
The WM8912 is the latest addition to Wolfson’s successful portfolio of ultra low power audio solutions, delivering Wolfson-quality audio performance and low power consumption in an ultra thin, cost competitive package.
The WM8912 features Wolfson’s innovative SmartDAC™ technology, a unique low power DAC capacitor switching architecture, which enables DAC to headphone power consumption of less than 4 mW. Also incorporated into the WM8912 is Wolfson’s Class W amplifier technology, an evolution of class G, which includes an adaptive dual drive charge pump and DC servo circuit architecture.
The Class W ground referenced amplifier technology uses an adaptive dual drive charge pump to optimize power dissipation and eliminate the need for large DC blocking capacitors on both headphone and line outputs, resulting in significant savings in PCB space and the audio subsystem bill of materials (BOM).
The WM8912 also features a control write sequencer to ensure ease of system design by enabling and disabling the DAC with a single register write. Flexible clocking options are provided by a low power Frequency Locked Loop (FLL). A programmable dynamic range controller compresses the output signal, ensuring maximum volume is achieved when desired. Used in conjunction with ReTune™ Mobile parametric equalizer, the WM8912 offers powerful features to optimize the performance of an output transducer, such as a headphone or speaker. The total package allows consumer electronics designers to develop highly differentiated end products at a reduced cost.
Duncan Macadie, Wolfson’s Low Power Audio Product Line Manager said: “The WM8912 brings together the key features required by system designers in one complete solution – low component count, ultra low power consumption, increased battery life and world-class audio – all in a cost competitive package.”
Pricing and Availability
The WM8912 is available for sampling now in a 32-pin 4×4 mm QFN package. In 1K quantities, the WM8912 is priced at $1.52.
WM8912 customer evaluation boards with the Wolfson Interactive Setup and Configuration Environment (WISCE™) are available to aid device evaluation and development. WISCE™ connects to the evaluation board over USB and offers a unique interactive register map interface. This interface provides unprecedented control and overview of the device settings.
About Wolfson Microelectronics
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a global leader in the supply of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductor solutions to the consumer electronics market. In the home, in the office and on the move, Wolfson’s innovative technology can be found at the heart of the world’s leading digital consumer goods, including premier hi-fi equipment, mobile phones, mp3 players, flat panel TVs, digital still cameras and portable navigation devices.
Wolfson is committed to the design and supply of ground-breaking products, including ultra low power and high performance audio devices, silicon microphones, power management IC’s and noise cancellation solutions, all of which come together in the Wolfson AudioPlus™ portfolio. This rich portfolio allows Wolfson’s global customers to better differentiate their digital consumer products and create whole new end-user experiences.
Wolfson has blended together many of its successful audio components to develop an architecture-defining family of mixed-signal hub solutions. These feature-rich hubs deliver world-class audio performance, significantly enhance battery life, provide longer music playback time, and offer more end-user features at a lower total cost – all of this while enabling designers to optimally manage the complex world of multiple concurrent use cases.
The company’s headquarters is located in Edinburgh, UK. Wolfson’s customers are located worldwide, and so is Wolfson, with design centers, sales offices, applications teams and engineering expertise across Europe, the US andAsia.
