Silicon Laboratories Inc. introduced a cost-effective USB-based evaluation kit that enables developers to add digital Class D audio capabilities to 32-bit embedded designs based on Silicon Labs’ feature-rich SiM3U1xx Precision32™ microcontrollers (MCUs). The new Class D ToolStick kit demonstrates how easy and economical it is to upgrade basic “buzzer/beeper” alert sounds used in personal medical devices, fitness equipment, high-end toys, small appliances and other consumer electronics products to more sophisticated voice prompts, music, sound clips and even streaming audio.
Silicon Labs’ highly integrated SiM3U1xx MCUs are well suited for digital Class D power amplification applications without the hassle and expense of adding discrete Class D amplifiers. The SiM3U1xx MCUs include a 300 mA high-drive I/O capable of directly driving a small speaker, a crystal-less USB transceiver compatible with the USB audio interface, two 250 ksps 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and an I2S receiver that supports audio streaming from a PC, a portable music player or a wide range of I2S-enabled audio devices. The only external components required to drive Class D audio from SiM3U1xx MCUs are inexpensive inductors, some capacitors and ferrite beads.
Silicon Laboratories
www.silabs.com