About UsThe World’s Smallest Smart Amplifier for Smartphone Audio Systems
The TFA9897 addresses the new acoustic challenges created by thinner handsets
NXP Semiconductors have launched its third-generation smart amplifier for smartphone audio systems - the TFA9897. The world’s smallest smart-amplifier solution, the TFA9897 makes the industry’s leading speaker-protection solution available to all phones at an attractive price - demonstrating NXP's commitment to developing innovative and accessible solutions for the fast-growing Portable & Wearables market.
NXP introduced the world’s first smart amplifier in 2012. Since its introduction, the overwhelming majority of leading smartphone manufacturers have adopted NXP speaker-protection solutions to improve the sound quality and volume provided by their devices. The high demand for NXP smart amplifiers has resulted in NXP shipping more than 150 million smart-amplifier ICs in just 2.5 years.
The global proliferation of smartphones combined with increasing consumer demand for high-quality sound is driving significant market demand for smart amplifiers. In addition to enhancing sound quality and volume, NXP smart amplifiers also address the new acoustic challenges created by thinner and smaller handsets as well as the repositioning of the speakers on the front as well as the back of phones.
“Over the past year, smart amplifiers have become the standard for premium smart phones. All top 15 smartphone makers use some form of speaker protection,” said Shawn Scarlett, marketing director, Mobile Audio Solutions, NXP Semiconductors. “;NXP is the clear market leader in smart amplifiers. We ship to 13 of the top 15 OEMs, including all of the top 10 OEMs in China. Our solutions can be found enhancing audio in the most sought after phones on the market today.”
The TFA9897 is designed to bring premium performance to mainstream phones.
The TFA9897 features the latest version of NXP’s industry-leading algorithm,
which is embedded in a system optimised for 8ohm micro-speakers.
As with previous smart-amplifier ICs, the entire system is integrated into a single chip which features the CoolFlux DSP,
a high-efficiency class-D amplifier with current sensing and a DC-to-DC converter.
The turn-key solution is compatible with all platforms and is easy to integrate.
Unlike simple current sense amplifiers, the TFA9897 offers the lowest latency protection available,
making it capable of competing with other amplifiers that feature higher power ratings.
The advanced, embedded algorithms require no separate licensing. Additional tools allow designers to customise sound quality and choose how to optimise the phone's performance. The design-in activities are supported by the world's strongest dedicated field application team. NXP’s expert field application team is distributed globally and offers world-leading expertise across hardware, software and acoustics.
Features of the TFA9897 Class-D Audio Amplifier
- Sophisticated speaker-boost and protection algorithm that maximizes speaker performance while protecting the speaker:
- Fully embedded software, no additional license fee or porting required
- Total integrated solution that includes DSP, amplifier, DC-to-DC, sensing and more.
- Adaptive excursion control guarantees that the speaker membrane excursion never exceeds its rated limit
- Real-time temperature protection - direct measurement ensures that voice coil temperature never exceeds its rated limit
- Environmentally aware - automatically adapts speaker parameters to acoustic and thermal changes including compensation for speaker-box leakage
- Output power: 1.2 W (RMS) into 8 Ω at 3.6 V supply voltage (THD = 1 %)
- Low noise Receiver mode
- Clip avoidance - DSP algorithm prevents clipping even with sagging supply voltage
- Bandwidth extension option to increase low frequency response
- Intelligent DC-to-DC converter maximizes audio headroom from any supply level and limits current consumption at low battery voltages
- Compatible with standard Acoustic Echo Cancellers (AECs)
- High efficiency and low-power dissipation
- Wide supply voltage range (fully operational from 2.5 V to 5.5 V)
- TDM audio interface configurable from 2 slots (I²S) up to 16 slots
- I²C-bus control interface (400 kHz)
- Dedicated speech mode with speech activity detector
- Speaker current and voltage monitoring (via the TDM-bus) for Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) at the host
- Fully short-circuit proof across the load and to the supply lines
- Sample frequencies from 8 kHz up to 48 kHz supported
- Option to route TDM input direct to TDM output to allow a second TDM input slave device to be used in combination with the TFA9897
- Volume control
- Low RF susceptibility
- Input clock jitter insensitive interface
- Thermally protected
- Low ‘pop noise' at all mode transitions
The NXP website address is www.nxp.com
[Reprinted with kind permission from NXP - Release Date, 2nd December, 2014]