Multimedia Chip Heralds Next-Gen ULC Handsets

Introduced as the industry’s first fully integrated, single-chip multimedia IC for entry-level cell phones, the Nexperia PNX4903 addresses ultra-low-cost (ULC) market demands for a combination of RF performance, power consumption metrics and features. Reportedly, the device enables a music phone with color screen, MP3 playback, removable flash memory card, and FM tuner for a total bill of materials under $20. The PNX4903 employs a CMOS process and is built on Silicon Labs' AeroFONE single-chip technology, an ARM926-EJS MCU core, and a high-performance DSP core. The device integrates an analog and digital baseband, RF transceiver, power management unit, battery charger, audio subsystem, and all voltage regulators. Other features include SAIC support, dual-band Rx/Tx, MP3 playback with support for SD cards, 40-voice polyphonic MIDI and MP3 ring tones, alternate 40-ksample/s audio mode for polyphonic ring tones, microphone amplifier with two differential inputs, two differential audio output amplifiers, HR/FR/EFR/AMR vocoders, speaker-phone noise suppression, and echo cancellation. Development tools are also available. NXP SEMICONDUCTORS, USA. (800) 447-1500.