A
new digital signal processing solution that will give cellular
telephone users the convenience and safety of hands-free operation
with exceptional audio quality was announced by Texas Instruments.
Designed for cellular phone cradles or "hands-free kits,"
the new TMS320WP010 combines integrated circuit hardware and ROM-coded
software to provide users with the ability to communicate effectively
while safely operating an automobile with both hands.
The new DSP addresses transmission or line noise interference by canceling both acoustic and line echoes, and also suppresses ambient cabin noise. In addition, the system allows both the caller and the call recipient to speak at the same time by supporting simultaneous two-way or full-duplex transmission, as opposed to half-duplex systems that will cut off one speaker's voice if they talk at the same time. The device also has the added advantage of global marketability. It supports many worldwide analog and digital standards, including AMPS, IS-54, IS-136, GSM, PDC, and CDMA.
With 'WP010 features designed into their products, cellular cradle OEMs will be able to offer end-users the convenience and safety of hands-free operation without the loss in sound quality they experience with other systems that lack noise suppression and echo cancellation.
In the future, TI will be offering increased functionality such as voice recognition and hands-free dialing. Eventually, some or all of the system's features may migrate to the handset itself to enhance the quality of handheld conversations.
The device is available either by itself or together with two TCM320AC36 Voice Band Audio Processors (VBAP) in a chipset, designated TCS320WP010. In addition, TI may license the cellular audio peripheral enhancements software used in the 'WP010 to developers who want to integrate it with their own TMS320 DSP code.
Samples of the 'WP010 DSP and the TCS320WP010 chipset are available now from Texas Instruments only. Pricing for the 'WP010, housed in a 100-pin TQFP package, is US $14 each in 100,000-unit quantities. The 'WP010 chipset is available at a 100,000-unit price of US $19 per chipset. When purchased as part of the chipset, the VBAP devices come in 20-pin plastic wide-body small-outline (DW) packages.