06 Feb 2012

VLSI Solution reveals all-in-one MP3 audio system-on-a-chip

VLSI Solution has unveiled the VS1005 SoC, a highly integrated all-in-one chip for audio processing applications.

The VS1005 System-on-a-Chip contains an extensive set of peripheral interfaces. Included are controllers for Hi-speed USB host/slave, SD card, parallel NAND flash, SPI, Ethernet, S/PDIF, I2S master/slave and UART. VS1005 also contains 24-bit ADC's and DAC's, headphone and microphone amplifiers, linear regulators, a real-time clock, and an FM tuner with RDS.

Controlled by a DSP, all these features allow for unprecedented flexibility in creating Hi-Fi stereo audio products.

The features of VS1005 are particularly suited for portable audio devices, docking stations, and portable recorder applications. To build a state-of-the-art personal music player or recorder just three additional circuits in addition to the VS1005 SoC are needed (a NAND flash, an axis accelerometer, and a power management device).

The audio signal paths of VS1005 SoC are very flexible. Digital audio inputs and outputs can be independent of analog inputs and outputs. Digital interfaces like S/PDIF allow easy and high-quality digital connectivity to home stereo systems. A digital sample rate converter allows for inputs and outputs with different sample rates.

The Hi-speed USB host function is useful in systems that require audio playback capability from external media such as USB memory sticks or drives, opening up many new applications in AV receivers and radio players. USB slave mode is also supported.

The Ethernet interface provides Internet streaming capability over wired lines. I2S extends digital connectivity with other ICs. The RTC and battery backed registers provide alarm functions as well as very low power - low speed modes for the DSP.

The VS1005 SoC takes a new approach in application development when compared to VLSI's earlier products. The multitasking operating system VSOS and the object code library MegaLib offer services that can be utilized with VLSI Solution's Integrated Development Environment VSIDE. This combination makes writing applications to VS1005's 256 KiB RAM memory a straightforward and intuitive process.

To further extend VS1005's usability, code can be loaded dynamically from any non-volatile memory, including VS1005's optional internal 1024 KiB flash memory. The internal flash memory can be protected, making it possible for developers and third parties to protect their code.

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