Freescale Brings Dolby(R) Technology to More Audiences; DSPD56374 Enhances High-End Audio Experience in Consumer and Automotive Applications

AUSTIN, Texas--Oct. 1, 20054, 2005--Freescale Semiconductor extends its longstanding audio leadership with the introduction of an advanced cost-effective digital signal processor (DSP) featuring Dolby(R) Digital, Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone technology functionality.

The DSPD56374 is expected to bring high-end Dolby technology to a significantly larger set of consumer and automotive applications, including digital televisions and video game accessories. The advanced software product is production ready and is the latest in a family of software ROM codes supported on the DSP56374, which was introduced in 2004.

"Freescale's audio DSP technology has been a leader in the industry since the first 24-bit DSP was introduced in the late 1980s," said Todd Benson of Freescale's Multimedia Applications Division. "Many leaders in the audio industry have standardized on our DSP technology to deliver high-quality sound, in car and home entertainment applications. Our longstanding and continuing partnership with Dolby Laboratories shows our commitment to provide the best audio technology and value for our customers."

In addition to support for Dolby Digital, the audio standard for today's popular DVD media, this advanced DSP also features Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone capabilities. These two technologies allow the experience of surround sound using only a stereo pair of speakers or any set of headphones.

"Dolby is committed to delivering the highest quality surround sound experience through a wide variety of consumer product applications," said Craig Eggers, senior manager, Consumer Electronics Technology Marketing, Dolby Laboratories. "Products with Freescale's advanced DSPs allow consumers to enjoy a cinematic Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound experience through any standard set of headphones or stereo speakers whenever or wherever they choose."

The DSPD56374 includes support for Freescale audio software architecture, a plug-and-play operating system for decoder and post-processing features. The software architecture accomplishes tasks, such as auto-detection of the supported incoming bitstream formats, as well as managing input and output drivers. The ROM also includes standard post-processing features used in consumer and automotive applications, such as bass management and delay management.

Other Freescale audio DSPs, including the DSP56367 and DSP56371, have supported Dolby technologies in the past. Now, the addition of Freescale's DSPD56374 offers customers a large selection of feature sets to meet a wide range of market needs and price points.

DSPD56374 Features

Hardware:

-- 150 MIPS at 150 MHz clock frequency

-- Onyx(TM) 24-bit DSP

-- 18K x 24 RAM

-- 28K x 24 ROM

-- 24-bit MAC with a 56-bit accumulator with capabilities for double precision modes when necessary

-- Six-channel DMA controller

-- Triple timer

-- Dual Enhanced Serial Audio Interface

-- Built-in oscillator circuit

-- Hardware watchdog in addition to the software watchdog on the timer for extra protection in applications without a microcontroller

-- JTAG port

-- Low-jitter PLL-based clocking

-- Static CMOS design operation at frequencies down to DC

Software:

-- Dolby Digital technology delivers up to 5.1 discrete channels of surround sound

-- Dolby Pro Logic II technology converts stereo content into multi-channel surround sound

-- Dolby Virtual Speaker technology simulates a 5.1-channel speaker system from a pair of stereo speakers

-- Dolby Headphone technology simulates a 5.1-channel surround sound speaker system from any pair of headphones

-- Bass Management

-- Delay Management

-- Volume Management

-- Auto Detection

Availability

The DSPD56374 is available now to Dolby licensees in production quantities. For more information on Freescale's audio digital signal processors, visit http://www.freescale.com/files/pr/dsp56374.html.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004 after more than 50 years as part of Motorola, Inc. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2004 sales of $5.7 billion (USD). www.freescale.com

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Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor Inc. Dolby(R), Pro Logic and the Dolby logo are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C) Freescale Semiconductor Inc. 2005.