Broadcom' - Bluetooth Chip Family Enables Stereo Headsets With Voice Recognition Capabilities

Broadcom announced a new family of Bluetooth system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions targeting stereo headset products. Combining the ability to enjoy streamed stereo music with traditional Bluetooth hands-free phone call capabilities, the new chip family also provides Broadcom's leading suite of built-in SmartAudio® technology that delivers appealing features for multiple tiers of headsets. The Broadcom® BCM2077x family includes three Bluetooth chips to enable entry-level, mainstream and high-end stereo headsets.

As the industry's first stereo Bluetooth SoC solutions designed in the 65 nanometer (nm) CMOS manufacturing process, the new BCM2077x family delivers these capabilities with the lowest power consumption available to ensure longer battery life, which is critical in stereo applications.

Highlights/ Key Facts:

* By integrating both stereo audio and hands-free capabilities into this new BCM2077x chip family, Broadcom is helping to drive expansion of the existing Bluetooth market to include multi-functional products that will appeal to consumers interested in one headset design for both listening to music and for talking on the phone.
* Key features of the BCM2077x Bluetooth family:
o ROM-based solution that eliminates the need for costly and bulky external memory components to enable more compact, cost-effective designs.
o Far-end echo and noise cancellation that significantly improves 'double-talk' performance to deliver clearer conversations.
o Built-in voice-recognition technology that allows device makers to include support for spoken commands that enhance the user experience.
o 'Near-end' speech intelligibility enhancement that automatically enhances the quality and loudness for the wearer of the headset.
o Integrated multiple language voice prompts (in on-chip ROM) that increases ease-of-use and lowers bill-of-materials (BOM) cost.
o An integrated 'fast-charging' power management unit (PMU) that is capable of recharging the headset in only a few minutes.
o Highly tunable audio algorithms that enable further differentiation and a unique capability to adapt to various form factors.
* The BCM2077x family consists of three chips targeting different tiers of headsets:
o BCM20770 — optimized for entry-level headsets and provides a basic suite of features and audio enhancements
o BCM20771 — targeted to single-microphone mainstream headsets and features more advanced SmartAudio capabilities to deliver a higher level of audio clarity for both ends of the cellular conversation
o BCM20772 — designed for high-end headsets and includes Broadcom's complete SmartAudio implementation with support for dual-microphone headsets that deliver the highest level of mono audio quality while also delivering the best stereo SNR (signal to noise ration) in its class
* Broadcom's SmartAudio technology intelligently analyzes digital audio streams within the Bluetooth hands-free device and differentiates between voice and non-voice characteristics while eliminating background noise to deliver a clearer and distortion-free conversation.
o Special wind-noise reduction technology can distinguish and significantly reduce this annoying audio interference for clearer and more intelligible conversations.
* Designed in a very small chip package, the BCM2077x family enables innovative industrial designs that includes 'behind the ear' and 'pendant' headsets that are comfortable and easy to wear.
* The BCM2077x family of Bluetooth SoC solutions is now sampling to early access customers.


Craig Ochikubo, Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom's Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business

Broadcom continues to help drive Bluetooth into wider ranges of devices, with our new stereo solution serving as a catalyst for new headset form factors and designs. Our low power, small sized family of Bluetooth solutions and comprehensive suite of audio and user interface enhancements, make these new Bluetooth solutions ideal for the next generation of dual-purpose stereo hands-free headsets.