Wolfson Microelectronics announces an addition to its AudioPlus Smart Power product line. The WM8400 combines a multimedia CODEC with integrated power management features. WM8400 functions include a multimedia CODEC, on-chip FLL, two DC-DC converters and four LDO regulators, all inside a compact 6x6mm BGA package. Flexible hardware control enables the WM8400 to support the generic power management needs of multimedia companion processors. The device incorporates a low power audio CODEC, which delivers 98dB SNR performance and supports the signal switching, audio conversion and voice mixing requirements of next-generation mobile phones.
The digital core can be as low as 5mW during a voice call. In addition, the WM8400’s CODEC is able to select, in software, Class AB or Class D speaker driver operation meaning handset designers can deploy filterless Class D technology into a wider range of increasingly diverse, handheld form factors, where restrictions such as noise and interference previously demanded a Class AB driver topology. System designers may select the most appropriate mode of operation for the anticipated usage scenario, allowing battery life for the end user to be maximised. The WM8400 also includes a 1W mono speaker driver. Four headphone driver outputs support conventional, fully differential or cap-less drive. Multiple microphone or analogue line inputs (mono or stereo, single-ended or differential) can be supported and a programmable high-pass filter is provided to remove low frequency noise from the input signal.
The digital audio interface supports most commonly-used data formats and clocking schemes while time-division multiplexing and an additional DAC interface provide additional flexibility. From a power management perspective, the WM8400 includes two programmable 2MHz DC-DC step-down (Buck) converters, four low-dropout (LDO) regulators. The startup sequence and default voltages for the core regulators; DC-DC1, DC-DC2, LDO1 and LDO2 are selectable in hardware via external pins, and all regulators are also software programmable. The core regulators are intended to power the multimedia application processor sub-system while LDO3 and 4 are specifically designed to power the on-chip audio CODEC.
The WM8400 is available for sampling now in a 105-pin 6x6mm BGA package.