WM8978 Product Preview
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PP Rev 1.7 January 2005
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OUT3 and OUT4 can be configured to provide an additional stereo lineout from the output of the
DACs, the mixers or the input microphone boost stages. Alternatively OUT4 can be configured as a
mono mix of left and right DACs or mixers, or simply a buffered version of the chip midrail reference
voltage. OUT3 can also be configured as a buffered VMID output. This voltage may then be used as
a headphone ‘pseudo ground’ allowing removal of the large AC coupling capacitors often used in the
output path.
AUDIO INTERFACES
The WM8978 has a standard audio interface, to support the transmission of stereo data to and from
the chip. This interface is a 3 wire standard audio interface which supports a number of audio data
formats including I2S, DSP/PCM Mode (a burst mode in which LRC sync plus 2 data packed words
are transmitted), MSB-First, left justified and MSB-First, right justified, and can operate in master or
slave modes.
CONTROL INTERFACES
To allow full software control over all its features, the WM8978 offers a choice of 2 or 3 wire MPU
control interface. It is fully compatible and an ideal partner for a wide range of industry standard
microprocessors, controllers and DSPs.
Selection between the modes is via the MODE pin. In 2 wire mode, the address of the device is fixed
as 0011010.
CLOCKING SCHEMES
WM8978 offers the normal audio DAC clocking scheme operation, where 256fs MCLK is provided to
the DAC and ADC.
A PLL is included which may be used to generate these clocks in the event that they are not
available from the system controller. This PLL uses an input clock, typically the 12MHz USB or ilink
clock, to generate high quality audio clocks. If this PLL is not required for generation of these clocks,
it can be reconfigured to generate alternative clocks which may then be output on the GPIO pins and
used elsewhere in the system.
POWER CONTROL
The design of the WM8978 has given much attention to power consumption without compromising
performance. It operates at very low voltages, includes the ability to power off any unused parts of
the circuitry under software control, and includes standby and power off modes.
OPERATION SCENARIOS
Flexibility in the design of the WM8978 allows for a wide range of operational scenarios, some of
which are proposed below:
Stereo Camcorder; The provision of two stereo microphone preamplifiers, allows support for both
internal and external microphones. All drivers for speaker, headphone and line output connections
are integrated. The selectable ‘application filters’ after the ADC provide for features such as ‘wind
noise’ reduction, or mechanical noise reducing filters.
Stereo Digital still camera recording; Support for digital stereo recording is similar to the camcorder
case. But additionally if the DSC supports MP3 playback, and perhaps recording, the ability of the
ADCs to support full 48ks/s high quality stereo recording increases device flexibility.
Mono Digital still camera; Full control over device functionality, and power control is provided,
allowing for the case of mono DSC recording, when half of the ADC and mic and line functionality
may be disabled to save power. In the mono case, the single ADC channel of audio data is sent out
over both Left and Right channels of the audio interface when normal I2S type interface format is
used. In the case where DSP mode is used, and mono data is being sent, only the signal channel of
mono data is sent.
ANALOG FM TUNER SUPPORT
An analog stereo FM tuner might be connected to the Line inputs of WM8978, and the stereo signal
listened to via headphones, or recorded, simultaneously if required.