Zarlink's Ultra Low-Power Chip for Digital Microphones Drives Breakthrough Performance for Next-Generation Cell Phones

Cellular handsets are quickly evolving into complete communication tools, with voice services augmented by applications ranging from camera, voice and music recorder capabilities, to text messaging and Internet access. As part of this transition, cellular phone manufacturers are converting from analog to digital microphone technology. For consumers, digital microphone technology offers better sound quality for voice and recorder applications, and superior noise cancellation capabilities to improve phone performance in noisy environments.

By supporting the full audio band up to 20 KHz (kilohertz), Zarlink's new high-performance analog-to-digital converter for digital microphones helps achieve clearer sound quality in cell phones. In addition, the device easily supports cellular phone stereo performance. The Zarlink converter chip enables "stereo on one wire" capability, with the output signals from two digital microphones in the handset interlaced on a single line.

For manufacturers, digital microphones will help reduce power consumption, save space and achieve lower design and component costs by eliminating complex analog components such as preamplifiers and modulators. Zarlink's ultra low-power converter chip draws less than 500 microamps and measures just 1.96 mm (millimeters) by 1.05 mm - small enough to produce tiny 4 mm microphones.

"This device for digital microphones builds on our skills in ultra low- power CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) analog-to-digital converter design for hearing aids," said Steve Swift, vice president and general manager, Ultra Low-Power Communications, Zarlink Semiconductor. "As a result, we will be first-to-market with a converter that meets the tough performance specifications of cell phone manufacturers."

Zarlink's low-power analog-to-digital converter is now sampling with microphone manufacturers. The chip is also suitable for battery-powered communications devices such as PDAs (personal digital assistants), wireless audio headsets and headphones, and hands-free telephone systems for automobiles.

Novel sigma-delta modulator architecture

To meet performance and power requirements, Zarlink's analog-to-digital converter employs a 4th-order sigma-delta modulator architecture that provides a wide audio bandwidth, high signal-to-noise ratio and a low noise floor, while consuming very little power. Incorporating a patent-pending technique, Zarlink's 4th-order modulator architecture ensures modulator stability, even under acoustic overload conditions.

In comparison, competing devices that use a lower order sigma-delta modulator exhibit instability when subjected to acoustic overload conditions, or consume excessive power to achieve required audio bandwidth and noise requirements. Zarlink's high performance low-power solution addresses these otherwise serious design issues for cell phone manufacturers.

About Zarlink Semiconductor

For almost 30 years, Zarlink Semiconductor has delivered semiconductor solutions that drive the capabilities of voice, enterprise, broadband and wireless communications. The Company's success is built on its technology strengths, including voice and data networks, consumer and ultra low-power communications, and high-performance analog. For more information, visit http://www.zarlink.com/.

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among others, the risks discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to consider the risks detailed in those filings.

Zarlink, ZL, and the Zarlink Semiconductor logo are trademarks of Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.

CONTACT: Zarlink, Michael Salter, Media Relations,
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