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Agere works with Silicon Labs to offer new soft modem chip sets
By Semiconductor Business News
May 30, 2002 (1:30 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020530S0043
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Agere Systems Inc. today said it has developed two next-generation chip sets for "soft" modem functions in desktop personal computers and notebook PCs that could dramatically reduce the space and cost of analog dial-up communications. Soft modems reduce the number of components in PCs by running signal-processing algorithms on host central processors (CPUs) instead of a separate digital signal processor (DSP). Agere said its new soft modem chip sets provide additional savings and will reduce board-space requirements by up to 50% compared to signal processor-based implementations. The new chip sets employ the latest silicon data access arrangement (DAA) technology from Silicon Laboratories Inc. of Austin, Tex., said Agere. The silicon DAA integrates coder-decoder (codec) functionality and a safe barrier between a modem and phone line without the use of bulky components, such as transformers, according to Agere. Agere's new chip sets feature V.92/V.44 56-kilobits-per-second modem data rates and enable single-sided MDC modem cards by fitting all components on one side of the circuit board, said the company. The two-chip solution for notebook computers consists of an AC97 digital interface device, called the SV92A2, plus a silicon DAA device, designated CSP1038. Agere said it is also offering a two-chip set for PCI applications in desktop PCs.