Product category: Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Analog Devices | Subject: SoftFone AD6721 and AD6722 baseband processors
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 14 February 2007
SoftFone chips for multimedia on
low-cost handsets
Analog Devices has brought out two highly integrated baseband processors designed to enable multimedia functions in low-cost GSM/GPRS cellular phones.
Analog Devices has brought out two highly integrated baseband processors designed to enable multimedia functions in low-cost GSM/GPRS cellular phones The new SoftFone AD6721 reduces the cost and component count of entry-level multimedia phones, and the SoftFone AD6722 adds an integrated image signal processor (ISP) for cameras up to 3Mpixel and direct camera interface to eliminate the need for a separate camera coprocessor
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 Sep 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Together, the new devices bring both improved image quality and better sound capabilities to low-cost handsets.
They are based on Analog Devices' RAM-based SoftFone architecture, which is found in hundreds of GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile phone models from dozens of manufacturers on networks around the world.
"Multimedia functionality is no longer only for high-end, expensive cellular phones", said Christian Kermarrec, vice president, RF and Wireless Systems, Analog Devices "Lower end handsets are also expected to have camera-phone capabilities, MP3 and AAC audio playback for both ring tones and full-track music files".
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"However, handset manufacturers have been limited in their cost-reduction plans by the cost of multimedia coprocessors that have generally been needed in phones with these capabilities".
"Our new SoftFone products address this by bringing a high level of multimedia functionality and eliminating the coprocessors".
The SoftFone AD6721 (Atlas-2H) and AD6722 (Dione) multimedia baseband processors make use of Analog Devices' DSP technology and an ARM7 TDMI microcontroller to perform both the communications and audio/video signal processing tasks in media-rich handsets.
The AD6722, manufactured in a 90nm process, includes an integrated ISP and a direct interface to cameras (up to 3Mpixel) and QVGA displays.
The ISP, which provides JPEG encoding and decoding, colour conversion, auto focus sharpness measurement, scaling and overlay control functions, eliminates the need for camera coprocessors, thereby lowering the cost of multimedia phones.
Both SoftFone devices also include a wide range of peripheral interfaces, including USB; an IrDA transceiver, which brings infra-red capabilities to the handset; an SD/MMC card interface for removable storage; and multiple programmable serial and parallel ports.
The analogue functions include voiceband codec, stereo audio convertors and speaker/headphone amplifiers, and multiple analogue audio channels for hands-free speakerphone operation and FM radio connection.
The radio interface also provides a seamless connection to the company's AD6548 Othello-G direct-conversion quad-band GPRS transceiver.
The AD6721 and AD6722 also include a complete power-management subsystem, consisting of multiple voltage regulators, battery charging control, and direct battery connection.
The AD6721 and AD6722 are software-compatible with previous GSM/GPRS SoftFone baseband processors.
Protocol stack and applications software is also available for each device, provided directly by Analog Devices.
The SoftFone AD6721 and AD6722 multimedia baseband chipsets are available now.
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