NXP Unveils Single-Chip Automotive Audio and Radio Processor
NXP Semiconductors has expanded its automotive infotainment product portfolio with the launch of the SAF9800 automotive audio and radio processor. Designed to simplify infotainment architectures, the SAF9800 integrates an analog radio (AM and FM) and AI/ML-enabled audio processing into a flexible single-chip solution.
This innovative approach for analog radio reception and audio processing integrates functionality that has traditionally required multiple discrete radio and audio components, according to NXP. As a result, automakers can now reduce system complexity and scale features across vehicle platforms.
Because the solution is designed for software-defined architectures, engineers can scale features through software. This allows automakers to configure, upgrade, and differentiate radio and audio capabilities without changing hardware, NXP said.
The SAF9800 also gives automakers more flexibility as radio policies change, including the current debate over the implementation of analog broadcast in next-generation vehicles, and as electrification adds new signal interference challenges. NXP’s latest generation of AM denoising technology (EVAM-lite) is supported on the SAF9800 product series to address signal interference challenges primarily from electric vehicles into the AM frequency band.
The SAF9800 integrates a HiFi 5 audio DSP with integrated neural-network processing capabilities together with NXP’s hardware-based biquad accelerators. These features enable advanced audio use cases such as real-time noise reduction, voice and sound classification, and adaptive in-cabin listening experiences, using data-driven algorithms rather than fixed signal processing, NXP said. It also delivers more than 10× audio processing performance compared to previous generations.
The SAF9800, housed in a 9 × 9-mm package, is now available with development support and software enablement tools.