A low-latency audio converter combines multi-microphone support, on-chip signal processing, diagnostic intelligence, and flexible digital audio interfaces for real-time voice applications.
Nuvoton has introduced the NAU85L42YG, a high-performance quad audio analog-to-digital converter (ADC) designed for multi-microphone voice capture in real-time and wireless audio systems. The device combines four-channel audio conversion with on-chip signal processing intended to reduce latency in applications such as video conferencing, smart speakers, AI robots, and wireless microphones.
The NAU85L42YG accepts both analog and digital microphone signals, helping designers integrate different microphone configurations into a single audio platform. Its signal-processing architecture includes a low-latency decimator with linear and non-linear digital filters. According to the supplied product information, this architecture reduces processing latency to one-sixth of that of conventional quad ADC implementations without low-pass filtering. This can help reduce timing differences between audio and video streams, particularly in wireless products using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
The key features are:
- 106-dB signal-to-noise ratio/dynamic range
- Wide supply-voltage operating range
- Automatic BCLK/MCLK detection
- Dual low-noise microphone bias supplies
- Industrial temperature rating of −40°C to +105°C
- Click here for the original announcement.
For multi-microphone systems, the device incorporates microphone diagnostic monitoring that allows the host system-on-chip (SoC) to detect microphone malfunctions. This can support voice-processing algorithms by providing information about microphone status and helping maintain dependable signal capture. An integrated frequency-locked loop (FLL) supports different input clock conditions, while automatic detection of bit clock (BCLK) and master clock (MCLK) simplifies clock management during system integration.
The converter supports up to 192-kHz sampling at 24-bit resolution, along with PCM, I²S, and TDM digital audio output formats. Two separate low-noise microphone bias supplies are included for microphone interfacing. The device also features a wide operating temperature range from −40°C to +105°C, making it suitable for industrial-grade designs.
The NAU85L42YG comes in a compact QFN-32, 4×4-mm package and has low power consumption of less than 12.4 mW per channel. Its combination of multi-microphone capture, latency-focused filtering, diagnostics, and flexible interfacing targets compact real-time audio equipment. Applications listed include video-conferencing systems, AI robots, wireless creator microphones, smart speakers, ceiling microphone arrays, and sound-card or mixer systems.
Click here for the original announcement.
