ES3986

The ES3986 digital-audio processor chip is ESS Technology's highly integrated, optimal-quality, and cost-effective single-chip solution for the emerging digital-audio market. Its target applications include internet audio platforms, MP3 CD players in boom box and combination systems, portable MP3 CD player, etc.

Based on the programmable multimedia processor (PMP) architecture, the ES3986 integrates software-configurable 32-bit reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor and a 64-bit vector processor core. The RISC CPU can be used in place of a microcontroller to provide the functions of system management, user interface, and peripheral control. The vector processor is dedicated for audio-specific processing. In addition to MPEG audio decoding, it will generate 3D sound effects, and support karaoke features, such as key control and echo. The chip also provides the voice-activated ADPCM codec for voice recording and language learning through MIC input.

The ES3986 supports a variety of CD servos directly to provide the system solution of lower BOM cost and manufacturing flexibility. With its low system power consumption, the built-in antishock capabilities, and 16-Mbit DRAM support, the ES3986 is very suitable for portable audio applications.

Figure 1 shows a typical standalone system using a MP3 player, where the MP3 stream from a CD-ROM is passed to the ES3986, which parses the system layer and decodes the audio layer. The decoded MPEG audio and 3D sound enhancement is then passed to the external audio DAC.