Rubidium Voice Trigger and Speech Recognition Integrates into NXP's CoolFlux DSP Core

Ultra-Low-Power Voice User Interface Optimized for Smartphones, Tablets and other Mobile Devices

Eindhoven, Netherlands and Raanana, Israel – February 24, 2014 – NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI), a global provider of solutions that enable secure connections for a smarter world, and Rubidium Ltd., a global supplier of embedded speech processing technologies, have announced today the integration of Rubidium's multi-lingual Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and always-listening Voice Trigger engine into NXP’s CoolFlux™ DSP, an ultra-low power (ULP) licensable DSP core optimized for digital audio processing. The integration of Rubidium’s feature rich technology into the CoolFlux DSP provides NXP licensees with access to hands free voice trigger and later also speech recognition capability with beam forming, barge-in capability and a host of other voice user interface (VUI) functionalities. The technology will be demonstrated during the 2014 Mobile World Congress (NXP stand in Hall 7, E30).

Rubidium has been a recognized innovator in embedded speech processing technology for mobile devices, domestic appliances and consumer applications since 1995. With over 50 million products in the market, Rubidium's small-footprint multilingual voice user interface solutions include compelling solutions such as TTS, ASR, Voice Trigger, speech compression and playback as well as biometric speaker verification.

“We are pleased to offer our CoolFlux customers Rubidium's market proven technology,” says Johan Van Ginderdeuren, Director CoolFlux Licensing at NXP. “As an example, with only 0.5 MIPs in the quiet listening mode and 4 MIPs in the active trigger word recognition mode, we expect Rubidium’s Voice Trigger to typically consume only 28 microwatts on the CoolFlux DSP subsystem using an ULP 90nm library. This frees up resources for other activities on the DSP and minimizes power consumption while being always on. In addition, the small memory footprint provides for extended Rubidium functionalities such as biometric speaker verification.”

“Voice trigger and deeply embedded speech recognition have become a highly-requested feature in many consumer products such as mobile phones, hands free car-kits, wearable devices, automotive multimedia and infotainment and smart TVs,” states Shlomo Peller, CEO and Founder of Rubidium Ltd. “Rubidium’s ULP micro-embedded voice trigger and speech recognition draws considerably less power than other embedded product offerings, hence is a perfect fit for the NXP’s ULP CoolFlux DSP combining best of both low power worlds. One of the immediate benefits to CoolFlux DSP's developer base is the availability of a truly hands free voice user interface combined with low power consumption and very small memory profile.”

For more information on the CoolFlux Rubidium integration visit www.rubidium.com.

About CoolFlux DSP

NXP’s embedded CoolFlux™ DSP core for ultra-low power audio applications was developed for high performance power-sensitive portable audio applications. The CoolFlux DSP, initially created and still successful for Hearing Aid applications is also used in chips for smartphones, tablets, portable media players and headsets. Other CoolFlux core family members like CoolFlux BSP support ULP software defined radio and wireline baseband processing and smart sensor processing. NXP licenses CoolFlux DSP cores through its corporate IP & Licensing division. CoolFlux comes with a highly effective Software Programming Suite. NXP also offers a comprehensive application software library for audio processing further enhanced with premium firmware by ISVs such as Rubidium and NXP Software. Find out more at www.coolflux.com.

About Rubidium Ltd.

Rubidium covers the entire scope of embedded Voice User Interface: speech recognition with beam forming, always-listening Voice Trigger wake-up, text-to-speech, speech compression, biometric speaker verification, and more. Rubidium's industry leading speech processing solutions are optimized for low-resource, low-power embedded applications in mobile, wireless, wearable, automotive and home appliances. Rubidium's multi-lingual solutions can work either standalone or combined with a cloud-based speech engine and provide customers with a totally hands-free, safe and productive user experience. Barge-in support and microphone array beam forming as well as a voice trigger demo application for Android® are just a few of the innovations from Rubidium for 2014.With over 50 million products in the market, Rubidium's low cost, small footprint technology is available for a large selection of processors, chips and software environments.. Visit @RubidiumLtd on Twitter and YouTube and also at www.rubidium.com.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) creates solutions that enable secure connections for a smarter world. Building on its expertise in High Performance Mixed Signal electronics, NXP is driving innovation in the automotive, identification and mobile industries, and in application areas including wireless infrastructure, lighting, healthcare, industrial, consumer tech and computing. NXP has operations in more than 25 countries, and posted revenue of $4.82 billion in 2013. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

Contact NXP Fill out this form for contacting a NXP representative. Your Name: Your E-mail address: Your Company address: Your Phone Number: Write your message: