Cirrus Logic Licenses Digital Harmonyís IEEE 1394
Cirrus Logic Inc. recently announced a licensing agreement with Digital Harmony that aims to proliferate affordable, high-bandwidth digital home entertainment systems. The terms of the agreement hold that Cirrus Logic has licensed the rights to Digital Harmonyís IEEE 1394 intellectual property, merging its Crystal audio expertise with Digital Harmonyís high-bandwidth data bus technology. Cirrus Logic plans to produce the industryís first non-proprietary 1394 system-on-chip (SOC) solution for use in digital consumer and professional audio/video equipment. The 1394 technology will complement solutions for a range of audio systems under Cirrus Logicís Crystal Audio brand, including consumer electronics, computer, professional audio and automotive equipment. According to Skip Taylor, Vice President of Marketing for Cirrus Logicís Crystal Audio Products Division, ""This agreement enables us to become the first semiconductor manufacturer to bring the advantages of 1394 technology within the reach of the broad consumer market."" Taylor continues, ""Building on our Crystal audio engineering expertise and our experience as the audio chip solutions leader, we plan to eliminate the cost barrier that has blocked digital A/V products from becoming ubiquitous."" The Digital Harmony 1394 interface, known as FireWireô (Apple Computer) and iLINKô (Sony Corporation), provides an intelligent high-speed connection to all types of consumer electronics, including digital audio games, game consoles, digital cameras, digital VCRs, web-enabled TVs, set-top boxes, DVD players, PCs and peripherals. The new Cirrus Logic SOC is targeted for production in mid- to late 2000 and is expected to be available at a fraction of todayís 1394-based solutions. The SOC will embed an ARM microprocessor and a Link Layer Controller in addition to the Digital Harmony IEEE 1394 design modules. Also, Cirrus Logic will also offer the SOC without the Digital Harmony firmware for customers who choose to create their own firmware. For more information, visit Cirrus Logicís Web site at www.cirrus.com.