TI Announces AEC-Q100 Qualification of Automotive Class-D Audio Amplifiers

TOKYO .- Continuing to meet high standards for audio in the car, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced Class-D audio amplifiers that have completed Q100 grade 2 qualification as defined by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC). This achievement certifies that the TAS5414 and TAS5424 meet the AEC’s stringent high reliability and unique requirements for use in the harsh automotive environment, without additional component-level qualification testing. These Class-D amplifiers provide the power efficiency of digital amplification for automotive audio applications, such as head units and external amplifiers. (For more information, see www.ti.com/TAS5414-pr.)

The TAS5414 and TAS5424 are four-channel digital audio Class-D amplifiers that deliver 90 percent power efficiency at normal listening levels for automotive audio systems. Comparatively, two TAS54x4 amplifiers can provide eight channels of audio, while generating less heat than a four-channel Class A/B-based system, enabling a new class of cost-effective eight-channel audio systems that are lighter, smaller and more power efficient than existing systems.

Designed with a focus on automotive quality requirements, the TAS5414 and TAS5424 underwent extensive testing to pass the AEC-Q100. Electrostatic discharge was tested to higher levels and electrical performance for datasheet parameters was carefully characterized with Cpk analysis. In addition to meeting AEC-Q100 standards, the TAS5414 and TAS5424 are also designed and manufactured in TS-16949 certified facilities. Production monitored burn-in is available as an option as well.

Given system performance and cost requirements, automotive audio designers can choose between the single-ended input available on the TAS5414 and the differential input provided on the TAS5424, which allows designers to select the dynamic range performance and configuration they prefer for the challenging board signal routing environment. The digital pulse-width modulation (PWM) topology of the TAS54x4 provides dramatic improvements in efficiency over traditional linear amplifier solutions. This reduces the power dissipated by the amplifier by a factor of ten under typical music playback conditions. High efficiency is accomplished without the need for complicated power-supply schemes.

“We’re pleased that many of the top automotive audio manufacturers plan to use TI’s Class-D amplifiers,” said Gary Reichmuth, TI’s general manager of audio and imaging products. “The TAS5414 and TAS5424 are enabling our customers to achieve innovations such as moving the amplifier to the automotive head unit, ultimately saving cost and providing higher audio performance.”

Availability, Packaging, and Pricing

The TAS5414ATDKDQ1 and TAS5424ATDKDQ1 are available now in 36-pin and 44-pin PSOP3 packages respectively with prices starting at $9.75 each in 1,000-unit quantities.