Microsemi Introduces Timberwolf, an Innovative Programmable DSP Platform Enabling Leading Solutions for the Intelligent Processing Markets

Platform features proprietary 4 MAC Digital Signal Processor engine designed in small geometry with dedicated hardware accelerators, special packaging and low power operation

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Microsemi Corporation

Sep 04, 2014, 07:00 ET

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today introduced its new Timberwolf™ platform of Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to address the growing intelligent processing markets. The Timberwolf DSP platform enables Microsemi to leverage its extensive expertise and leadership in voice communications to bridge into new and emerging hands-free applications that require clear speech, free of noise and echo.

The new Timberwolf platform is a third generation low power, advanced DSP architecture designed in a small geometry with a proprietary 4 MAC core, dedicated hardware accelerators, and two independent 16-bit DACs in a single leading-edge 64-pin QFN and 56 pin 3x3 CSP packages. The new hardware architecture is ideal for many of today's growing needs for intelligent processors that can be used for low-power hands free applications and much more. This field upgradable DSP platform, when combined with algorithmic firmware, can enable beam forming, multi-channel acoustic echo cancellation (AEC), direction of arrival and far field MIC capabilities. These new advanced DSP technologies are the foundation for improved sound quality, automatic speech recognition, sound classification and other intelligent decision-making functions based on sound and intelligent processing.

Timberwolf will provide Microsemi's customers with a highly programmable intelligent processing platform to develop a wide variety of communications, industrial, enterprise, defense and security solutions that are significantly differentiated from the company's competitors. The introduction of the platform strengthens Microsemi's position in communications markets and expands its market opportunity from wired communications to enterprise IP applications, to wearable computing. According to Reportlinker.com, the global wearable computing market will grow to approximately $9.2 billion in 2014 and more than $30.2 billion by 2018.

"This introduction of a highly-programmable DSP platform by Microsemi is part of the company's continued commitment to invest in the communications segment and allows us to continue to provide innovative processing platforms to our customers," said Roger Holliday, senior vice president and general manager, Microsemi's communications group. "We are complementing our overall product portfolio with system solutions in intelligent processing markets to address many new and leading-edge applications such as acoustic intelligence."

About the Timberwolf Programmable Technology Family

The Timberwolf programmable processing platform is an application-specific proprietary 4 MAC DSP engine designed in small geometry. It includes leading-edge dedicated hardware accelerators to perform many complex algorithms and allow for operations at lower frequencies as well as ultra-low power mode and sleep mode, which is critical to saving power in battery run applications.

Hardware Features

300MHz proprietary DSP architecture with hardware acceleration
Host interface: I2C, SPI, UART
Standalone (controller-less) auto-boot from flash
Two clock independent TDM ports (PCM or I2S)
14 GPIOs, configurable as keypad scanner, and/or built-in control features
Crystal-less operation
Two digital microphone interfaces
- Total of four digital microphone inputs
Dual 16-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs)
Headphone amps capable of four single-ended or two differential outputs
- Two independent headphone drivers
- 16 ohms single-ended or differential drive capability
- 32 mW output drive power into 16 ohms
- Impulse pop/click protection

Availability

The first Timberwolf-based devices—ZL38040, ZL38050, ZL38060 and ZL38080—are now in production. For additional product information, visit www.microsemi.com/timberwolfplatform. Customers can also contact Microsemi's sales team at [email protected].

About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world's standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,400 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

Microsemi and the Microsemi logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Microsemi Corporation and/or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks and service marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to its Timberwolf™ platform of Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to address the growing acoustic processing market, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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SOURCE Microsemi Corporation