New Toshiba Audio Codec Integrates Single Microphone Noise/Echo Cancellation Technologies Preserving Pure Voice Quality on Mobile Devices

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create breakthrough designs, today premieres its TC94B24WBG audio codec—a highly integrated single microphone Noise Cancellation (NC) and Echo Cancellation (EC) solution orchestrating high-quality voice on smartphones and portable devices. The TC94B24WBG offers design flexibility, performance, and cost benefits so OEMs can better address challenges associated with multiple microphone audio processing.

Besides processing the NC/EC algorithms, the high-performance, low-power, general-purpose programmable DSP in the TC94B24WBG allows customers to implement their own software in the audio codec to help differentiate their products from the competition. Additionally, the TC94B24WBG includes a 2-ch Analog Electret Condenser Microphone (AECM) interface, 4-ch Digital Electret Condenser Microphone (DECM) interface, a battery conserving class-G headphone amplifier, ear-speaker amplifier, asynchronous sampling rate converter, 4-ch I2S interface, I2C/SPI interface and audio post processing (equalizer, dynamic-range controller). It provides all of the audio inputs and outputs required by mobile and telephony products. The device interfaces with the audio I/O and the application processor in smartphones and tablets. The TC94B24WBG comes equipped with two analog and four digital microphone inputs to suit a variety of customer needs. Toshiba's unique audio processing algorithm, however, needs just one analog microphone to efficiently provide NC/EC simultaneously.

"Toshiba once again delivers an innovative device that gives OEMs distinct advantages relative to price, performance and quality as they roll out next-generation mobile devices. Many companies have attempted single microphone Noise Cancellation/Echo Cancellation designs, but compromised on the performance. Toshiba believes its one microphone solution for audio processing delivers true voice sound while mindful of performance, area and design concerns associated with smaller smartphones and tablets," said Andrew Burt, vice president of the Analog and Imaging Business Unit, System LSI Group at TAEC. "The end result is that consumers will appreciate the voice quality enabled by the new Toshiba audio codec on their hand-held devices."

Outstanding noise cancellation on the TC94B24WBG is achieved through a Toshiba proprietary one-microphone algorithm. The algorithm distinguishes between voice and noise with statistical noise estimation while Toshiba's improved minimum mean square error method in frequency domain removes noise only and makes the voice remain natural. The excellent echo cancellation algorithm has a time-domain echo cancelling adaptive filter and a frequency-domain echo suppression. The former removes linear echo, the latter suppresses the residual non-linear echo. These two main processes work together closely and intelligently to achieve high-quality echo cancellation by the same microphone used for the noise cancellation.  

Pricing and Availability

The Toshiba TC94B24WBG is priced at $3.00 in 1K quantity. The audio codec is currently sampling with mass production scheduled to begin in February 2013.

*About TAEC

Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs. Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, distributions and fabless chip companies worldwide. A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, discrete devices, displays, advanced materials, medical tubes, custom SoCs/ASICs, imaging products, microcontrollers and wireless components that make possible today's leading cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics and more.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's third largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2010 WW Semiconductor Revenue, March 2012). Toshiba Corporation was founded in 1875 and today has over 554 subsidiaries and affiliates, with 210,000 employees worldwide. Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.  Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications.  In developing designs, please ensure that Toshiba products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the most recent Toshiba product specifications and the information set forth in Toshiba's "Handling Guide for Semiconductor Devices," or "Toshiba Semiconductor Reliability Handbook." This information is available at http://www.toshiba.com/taec/support/techquestions/index.jsp or from your TAEC representative.

SOURCE Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.