Arasan brings expertise in serial audio and over one hundred design wins with MIPI® SLIMbusSM to the MIPI SoundWireSM Specification with the launch of the Arasan Total MIPI SoundWire Intellectual Property (“IP”) Core Solution.
SoundWire is suited for small, cost-sensitive audio peripherals such as modern digital class-D amplifiers and digital microphones.
Key features include:
- Unified transport of PDM and PCM data well suited for modern digital audio solutions
- Transporting all of payload data channels, control information, and setup commands over a single two-pin interface
- Clock scaling and optional multiple data lanes to give wide flexibility in data rate to match system requirements
- Lower clock frequency, and hence lower power consumption, by use of DDR data transmission
The Total MIPI SoundWire IP Solution from Arasan enables early adopters the fastest path to adoption of this new standard by offering a comprehensive IP package that includes the Verilog RTL source code for Master & Slave fully validated for compliance with the standard, a comprehensive test environment with a compliance suite for verification of the IP, a SoundWire Hardware Development Kit (“HDK”) for FPGA prototyping, a SoundWire protocol analyzer and a complete SoundWire software stack.
The IP is fully configurable for a number of options like data ports, SoundWire bus lanes and audio sample widths to meet a wide range of audio applications.
The IP has been developed in a joint partnership agreement with BlackBerry, Inc. who were the original proponents of the MIPI SoundWire specification. Their extensive expertise in audio, and their active participation in the SoundWire working group, led to the development of the Arasan SoundWire Controller IP that addresses a multitude of audio applications for smartphones, tablets, mobile PCs and other devices.
“Arasan Total IP Solution for SoundWire is the culmination of years of efforts by Arasan and its partner Blackberry for a simpler audio interface for mobile platforms. It makes our combined expertise in Audio engineering and extensive knowledge gained through customer engagements in MIPI Slimbus readily available as a fully packaged solution for SoundWire. Our Total IP Solution which includes all the components early SoundWire adopters need for implementation and compliance will enable the rapid adoption of this nascent technology. ” said Prakash Kamath, CTO, Arasan Chip Systems.
The new MIPI SoundWire interface provides a scalable, yet low complexity and low power two-wire interface. “It has been well received by industry because it fills a gap between PDM devices with limited programmability and complex PCM devices based on SLIMbus or the classic I2S/I2C combination that require several more pins” said J. Kristian Poulsen, Sr. Audio Designer, BlackBerry Limited.
“As an active member of the MIPI Alliance, Blackberry has been instrumental in the development of the SoundWire specification with a significant contribution to the drafting of the specification.” said Joel Huloux, chairman of the board of MIPI Alliance . “We believe the Arasan Total IP Solution for SoundWire furthers the goal of MIPI to ensure widespread adoption of the SoundWire standard.”
Availability
Arasan SoundWire Total IP Solution is available to license immediately. Arasan is offering promotional rates for early adopters and existing customers who wish to license its Total IP Solution for MIPI SoundWire. Please contact Sales for additional information. Arasan will host a live webinar on MIPI SoundWire after the specification is released in December 2014. Please check the website for registration information: https://www.arasan.com/webinars
About Arasan
Arasan Chip Systems is a leading provider of Total IP Solutions for mobile storage and connectivity applications. Arasan’s high-quality, silicon-proven, Total IP Solutions include digital IP cores, analog PHY interfaces, verification IP, hardware verification kits, protocol analyzers, software stacks and drivers, and optional customization services for MIPI, USB, UFS, SD, SDIO, MMC/eMMC, UFS, and many other popular standards. Arasan’s Total IP products serve system architects and chip design teams in mobile, gaming and desktop computing systems that require silicon-proven, validated IP, delivered with the ability to integrate and verify both digital, analog and software components in the shortest possible time with the lowest risk. Unlike many other IP providers, Arasan’s Total IP Solution encompasses all aspects of IP development and integration, including analog and digital cores, hardware development kits, protocol analyzers, validation IP and software stacks and drivers and optional architecture consulting and customization services. Based in San Jose, CA, USA, Arasan Chip Systems has a 17 year track record of IP and IP standards development leadership.
About BlackBerry
A global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols “BB” on the Toronto Stock Exchange and “BBRY” on the NASDAQ. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.
About MIPI Alliance
MIPI Alliance (MIPI) develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries. Founded in 2003, the organization has more than 275 member companies worldwide, more than 15 active working groups, and has delivered more than 45 specifications within the mobile ecosystem in the last decade. Members of the organization include handset manufacturers, device OEMs, software providers, semiconductor companies, application processor developers, IP providers,