Chapter 1

Introduction

ISD
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Voice Solutions in Silicon™


OVERVIEW
ISD’s (Information Storage Devices’) patented
ChipCorder technology is a revolutionary multi-
level storage technique to record and play back
sound—much like a tape recorder—on a single
microchip.
ISD’s ChipCorder devices, the industry’s first sin-
gle-chip, solid-state record and playback solu-
tions, are well-known for their very natural sound
quality. ChipCorder products can be recorded
and re-recorded reliably up to 100,000 times and
are the market’s only complete single-chip solution
to retain messages without power.
These technological advances enable ISD’s Chip-
Corder devices to be the ideal voice solutions for
a myriad of communications, consumer, indus-
trial, automotive and medical products. Many of
today’s communications products such as cellular
telephones, voice pagers and telephone answer-
ing machines rely upon ChipCorder devices as
the “tapeless” approach to natural sound repro-
duction. In the consumer market, ISD’s products
provide the core technology for personal voice
organizers, voice “message pads,” toys, record-
able greeting cards, interactive books, clocks,
ornaments and personalized gifts. The simplicity
and cost-effectiveness of ChipCorder devices
have brought these products to market economi-
cally. Various industrial products such as security
and warning systems, annunciators and point of
sales displays depend on ChipCorder devices’
unique capability to retain stored messages in the
event of power loss or battery replacement. Medical
ISD
Introduction
ChipCorder® Technology
equipment and pharmaceutical products such as
monitoring systems, prompting devices and
handicapped personal aids utilize the multiple
record capability and compactness of ISD’s Chip-
Corder solutions.
The applications for voice and sound are endless.
1
We hope you will explore the following benefits of
ChipCorder technology in adding voice, sounds
or tones to your products:
• Natural sound reproduction creates a high-
quality impression
• A single-chip solution shortens time-to-market
by simplifying the design process
• Lifetime message storage ensures prompts
and messages are not lost, even during battery
replacement
• Multiple record cycles extend the life and
increase the value of your products
TECHNOLOGY
ISD’s unique ChipCorder technology provides a
means of storing information directly, without con-
version to digital, into standard EEPROM memory
cells. Utilizing a patented multi-level storage tech-
nique, ChipCorder devices currently store up to
eight times the information per memory cell
compared to conventional digital solutions. This
technological breakthrough provides an over-
whelming advantage in delivering cost-effective,
high-quality voice solutions for the rapidly growing
voice market.
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 ChipCorder Technology
Since EEPROM cells are nonvolatile, ChipCorder
devices do not require battery backup to preserve
the recorded message. Overall power consumption,
therefore, is dramatically reduced, making these
devices ideal for handheld, battery-powered products.
ChipCorder technology enables storage of voice
and audio signals directly into memory, eliminat-
ing the need for analog-to-digital conversion. This
not only minimizes, but also simplifies, the external
circuitry required. Furthermore, ISD’s experi-
enced design team has integrated the oscillator,
microphone pre-amplifier, automatic gain control,
anti-aliasing filter, smoothing filter and speaker
amplifier on-chip to achieve a complete “system
on a chip.” Only a microphone, speaker, power
source and a few passive components are
needed to implement a complete record/playback
1 function. Note that the ISD33000 has been
designed for applications that already have these
functions on board. Therefore, the ISD33000 does
not include an AGC, microphone preamp and
speaker driver on board.
ChipCorder devices are fully microprocessor-
compatible, allowing complex messages to be
achieved. Additionally, many devices can be
directly cascaded to increase the record and
playback duration. Many of the most frequently
asked questions are answered below:
What exactly is multi-level storage?
“Multi-level” storage is a high-density storage
methodology. Conventional digital storage, for
example, stores one “bit” of information per memory
cell—a “1” or a “0” (or, in terms of voltage levels,
an “on” or an “off”). ChipCorder technology
improves upon this and stores up to 256 distinct
voltage levels per single cell. That is, ChipCorder
devices store up to eight times (28 = 256) more
information in the same amount of space. Thus, for
a given quality of voice reproduction, one-eighth
the silicon storage is required over conventional
techniques.
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Introduction
How are signals actually stored in the
memory cells using ChipCorder technology?
How reliable is it?
ISD’s patented technology enables small packets
of charge to be pulsed in a controlled manner
through the oxide into the floating gate in the storage
cell. Digital solutions, in comparison, drive a tremen-
dous amount of charge through the oxide all at
once, literally causing much greater “wear and
tear” on the thin gate oxide. ISD’s storage imple-
mentation, therefore, provides much greater reli-
ability and a higher number of record cycles over
conventional storage devices.
How many times can a message be re-recorded
and how long will it be stored?
Messages can be re-recorded up to 100,000
times and can be stored up to 100 years. These
are typical numbers based on accelerated life
tests performed on ChipCorder devices.
How can multi-level storage technology benefit
my product design?
ChipCorder technology benefits product design
in many ways: (1) the natural sound reproduction
offered creates a high-quality product impression.
Other solutions have often been rejected for their
artificial or “synthetic” sound quality; (2) a single-
chip solution simplifies the design process,
enables very compact products and shortens
time-to-market; (3) ISD’s nonvolatile, multi-level
storage ensures valuable data is never lost;
(4) multiple record cycle capability extends the
life and increases the value of your products; and
(5) the high density storage achieved by this pat-
ented technology facilitates cost-effective record
and playback products.
Increased compression techniques are being
used with digital solutions. Does this reduce
ChipCorder’s technology advantage?
Any compression or digital reduction technique
performed on digital data results in lower reproduc-
tion quality: the greater the compression, the lower
Voice Solutions in Silicon™
Introduction
the quality. The superior sound quality ChipCorder
technology provides over compressed digital
data, therefore, is very pronounced, even at equal
sampling frequencies. Compared to a common
digital reduction technique (4-bit ADPCM), Chip-
Corder devices retain a storage density advan-
tage (4:1, in this case).
How do ChipCorder devices perform in lower-
power, battery-powered applications?
ChipCorder devices are ideal for handheld, battery-
powered applications for four main reasons: (1) all
devices are nonvolatile and require no battery
backup; (2) a single microchip provides the entire
record/playback solution, saving both space and
power; (3) ChipCorder devices have significantly
fewer storage cells than conventional solutions,
thereby requiring less power; and (4) all ChipCorder
solutions have been designed with power savings
in mind and several of them automatically power
down at the end of every message.
What development tools does ISD offer?
Can I program ChipCorder devices with
a standard message?
Although development systems are not required
with ChipCorder devices, ISD offers several eval-
uation and programming systems for sale. The
Sound Development & Programming System
enables users to create, edit and mass-program
ISD devices with very accurate messages. This
comprehensive data book includes a chapter
entitled “Application Information,” which depicts
several complete schematics and descriptions of
sample applications, including microphone and
speaker recommendations.
Why have other companies not challenged ISD
with similar or competing technologies?
Although companies have tried, competitors have
not been able to emulate or duplicate ISD’s tech-
nology. To date, ISD is the sole supplier of this
unique multi-level storage technology and holds a
ISD
ChipCorder Technology
very strong patent position. Additionally, ISD’s
strong engineering and R&D team continues to
innovate storage techniques and make enhance-
ments to the ChipCorder product line.
ISD’s Product Series
ISD currently offers six ChipCorder product
series: ISD1000A, ISD1100, ISD1200, ISD1400,
ISD2500, and ISD33000. The ISD1500 is previewed.
Winner of many awards, the ISD1000A Series repre-
sents the industry’s first single-chip record and
playback devices. Offering 16 and 20 seconds of
storage, this family of products is ideal for consumer
applications requiring the record and playback
capabilities of a few short messages. The
ISD1100/1200 Series offers 10 and 12 seconds of
storage and provide the most cost-effective voice
solution. These products currently feature a sim- 1
ple push-button interface, automatic power down
for single-message and multiple applications.
One key difference between them is that the
ISD1100 Series has pull-up resistors and the
ISD1200 Series does not. The ISD1100 series usu-
ally works better in single-message applications,
while the ISD1200 usually works better in multi-
message applications (see Chapter 5, Application
Information for more details). The ISD1400 Series
offers 16 and 20 seconds of storage with many
enhanced features. The ISD2500 Series offers 32,
40, 48, 60, 64, 75, 90 and 120 seconds of voice
record and playback durations. ISD’s latest product,
the ISD33000, offers 3-volt operation, serial inter-
face (SPI) and substantially longer voice record-
ing durations—up to 4 minutes. This series
enables a wide variety of applications and is
especially well-suited for portable communica-
tions applications.
ISD plans to utilize ChipCorder technology and
expand its product portfolio to devices with signif-
icantly greater durations on a single-chip, as well
as devices suited for “non-voice” applications.
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 ChipCorder Technology Introduction

ISD PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Package
Product Input Sample Typical Filter Pass
Part Number Duration

Wafer
TSOP
SOIC

Bare
Series Rate (KHz) Band (KHz)

DIP
ISD1000A ISD1016A 16 sec. 8.0 3.4 ■ ■ ■

ISD1020A 20 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■

ISD1100 ISD1110 10 sec. 6.4 2.6 ■ ■ ■

SD1112 12 sec. 5.3 2.2 ■ ■ ■

ISD1200 ISD1210 10 sec. 6.4 2.6 ■ ■ ■

ISD1212 12 sec. 5.3 2.2 ■ ■ ■

ISD1400 ISD1416 16 sec. 8.0 3.3 ■ ■ ■

ISD1420 20 sec. 6.4 2.6 ■ ■ ■

ISD1500* ISD1506* 6 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■

ISD1510* 10 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■

1 ISD1520* 20 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■

ISD2500 ISD2532* 32 sec. 8.0 3.4 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD2540* 40 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD2548* 48 sec. 5.3 2.3 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD2564* 64 sec. 4.0 1.7 ■ ■

ISD2560 60 sec. 8.0 3.4 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD2575 75 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD2590 90 sec. 5.3 2.3 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD25120 120 sec. 4.0 1.7 ■ ■

ISD33000 ISD33060 60 sec. 8.0 3.4 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33075 75 sec. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33090 90 sec. 5.3 2.3 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33120-4 2.0 min. 4.0 1.7 ■ ■

ISD33120 2.0 min. 8.0 3.4 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33150 2.5 min. 6.4 2.7 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33180 3.0 min. 5.3 2.3 ■ ■ ■ ■

ISD33240 4.0 min. 4.0 1.7 ■ ■ ■ ■

*Advanced Information

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Introduction ChipCorder Technology

ISD PRODUCT FEATURES

Product Series
Product Features
1000A 1100 1200 1400 15001 2500 33000

Major Features
Single 3-volt Supply ■

Single 5-volt Supply ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Zero Power Storage ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Microphone Preamplifier, AGC ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Speaker Driver ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

On-Chip Internal Clock ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Full Message Addressing ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Memory Management (RAC) ■

Automatic Power Down ■ ■ ■ ■ ■2

Message Cueing
Automatic Message Looping
■

■
■

■
■

■
■

■
■

■
■

■
■
1
OVF Output ■ ■

Other Operational Modes ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Control Interface
Push Button/Stand Alone ■ ■ ■ ■

Push Button/Stand Alone or Microcontroller Interface (Parallel) ■ ■

Microcontroller Interface (SPI or Microwire) ■

NOTES: 1. Advanced Information

2. with Push Button Mode

ISD 1–5
 ChipCorder Technology Introduction

1–6 Voice Solutions in Silicon™