Decoder LSI enables quality voice generation

Rohm Co. Ltd has developed the BU8844FV ADPCM decoder LSI that features high-quality voice generation and low current consumption specifically developed for home electronic appliances.

Home electronic products that cater to the elderly or equipped with functions to prevent incorrect operation are in great demand. As a result, sets incorporating voice warning and guidance functions are on the rise. Realizing highly functional voice generation, however, requires expertise for low power consumption in order to generate uninterrupted voice without depending on the MCU.

Rohm's new decoder LSI for voice generation reduces current consumption to 1.3mA, at least 1/6 (or lower) that of conventional products, and integrates all of the functions required for voice generation into a single package. The device incorporates a FIFO function that reduces the load on the MCU and makes it possible to add onto existing systems without making a large number of changes. In addition, tools are provided in order to create and verify voice guidance data on a PC, enabling users to easily add voice guidance functionality.

The sampling rate can be set in 1kHz increments between 4kHZ and 32kHz for each system, resulting in high-quality voice generation optimized to the sampling rate of the system. Aside from voice-compressed ADPCM data, the device is also compatible with 16bit PCM music data, the company explained, making it possible to reproduce high-quality music and voice.

Rohm promises to deliver total support, including introducing content providers that will help the user develop customized voice content, greatly reducing product development. The company's BU8844FV, along with its comprehensive support system, make it possible to easily add voice-generation functionality to existing sets.

Sample shipments started in September 2006 at a unit price of $4.31 and a monthly production rate of 500,000 units.