STMicroelectronics, Soundchip Partner on HD-PA

STMicroelectronics (ST) and Soundchip SA will be collaborating to bring the Soundchip-originated High Definition Personal Audio (HD-PA) Standard to market by leveraging their respective strengths in audio system and semiconductor technology, product design and industrialization methods.

HD-PA, unlike other approaches that focus on the quality of sound produced at the source, offers a new approach for driving innovation in personal audio at the ear, addressing the influence of important environmental factors, particularly noise.

The collaboration will see ST license patented personal audio technology from Soundchip, becoming an active champion of the HD-PA Standard, while Soundchip will access design software tools from ST and promote ST’s HD-PA Ready silicon.

In a statement, Benedetto Vigna, MEMS, Sensor and High-Performance Analog Division General Manager at STMicroelectronics, noted, “Developing HD-PA-compliant devices demands the close association of silicon and acoustics. Our cooperative efforts with Soundchip underpin our commitment to providing customers with market-leading audio technologies.”

“Soundchip has a wealth of experience in the design of high-performance audio systems technology for personal audio. Partnering with ST to bring HD-PA to market makes absolute sense as we share a common vision for audio technology at the ear and ST has the ability to transform innovative ideas into world-class silicon available to customers on a global scale," said Mark Donaldson, Soundchip CEO.

The first HD-PA Ready silicon devices are expected to be available in sampling quantities next quarter.

Soundchip

STMicroelectronics