1999-07-12 , E/IC-1056/54
Product News From Philips Semiconductors

Audio CD players can play home recorded discs with CD10 chipset

Philips Semiconductors has launched the first chipset to bring CD-RW (compact-disc re-writeable) compatibility to CD audio players. The CD10 chipset is supplied in low-cost, 2X, and automobile application versions, and a developers kit is also available.

"Audio-CD Recorders are bringing CD-RW technology to the home audio market," said Charles Limonard, international product manager for consumer CD/DVD systems at Philips Semiconductors. "Because discs written by CD-RW drives reflect a much lower level of light than pressed CDs or those written with a CD-R recorder, they generate a lower level electrical signal. This means that many CD players will not play discs recorded on CD-RW audio recorders - home recordings cannot be played in the car, for example. Philips Semiconductors' CD10 chipset allows designers to build CD players that can read all forms of disc, without an increase in component count."

"All the major high-end CD equipment manufacturers are already using Philips Semiconductors' digital servo technologies (CD7 & CD10) because of their outstanding playability - their ability to play discs that are damaged or non-standard," continued Limonard. "The CD10 chipset offers the highest performance in its class, yet is priced for low cost applications, bringing high-end playability to lower-end machines."

The CD10 chipset is particularly suitable for applications such as portable radio-CD-cassette players (boom-boxes), personal CD players, integrated mini/micro systems and lower-cost in-car entertainment systems. It provides an on-chip digital servo controller, a CD decoder, a bitstream DAC, amplifier and laser supply circuitry in a two-chip set. Three versions are available. The CD10 is intended for 2X systems, including portable applications, the CD10LC is ideal for budget 1X systems and most stationary systems, and the CD10Auto is designed for in-car use.

The developers' kit only requires connection to a power supply before starting design work. It includes the CD10 chip set, supporting interface devices, a main PCB and connector, and user interface PCBs. Also supplied are software and full documentation, including a user manual, assembly drawings and circuit diagrams.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com