Conexant Announces Controller-Based Modem with SPI Interface

Conexant Systems (News - Alert), Inc., a premier supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem and video surveillance applications, has introduced the CX93040, a controller-based modem that utilizes an SPI interface.

Available in three different versions, the CX93040 is the latest in Conexant’s line of SmartModems which integrate a microcontroller, digital signal processor, memory and a SmartDAA interface onto a single die.

The different versions represent different speeds: a V.32bis version, a V.34 version and a V.92 version.

“Conexant is the number one modem supplier worldwide, and our three decades of technology experience in this space have been brought to bear in the design of the new CX93040, which has been built with the needs of our customers across the globe in mind,” noted Sailesh Chittipeddi (News - Alert), Ph.D., Conexant president and chief executive officer, in a press release.

The CX93040 is well-suited to applications such as point-of-sale terminals and set-top-boxes where the modem is used as a back channel. It is also easily adaptable and requires minimal host intervention.

The addition of an SPI interface is what makes the CX93040 apart.  SPI is a shared bus working in a master/slave configuration, and requiring only one set of I/Os for all peripherals that attach to the SPI bus. It allows for maximum flexibility in the main processor and is found in virtually every SOC and/or main processor.

The CX93040, by using an SPI bus is allowed to eliminate a UART port on the SOC and its associated pins that would have otherwise been dedicated for the modem.

Sailesh further added, “Our proprietary SmartDAA technology allows for worldwide compliance with a single design – eliminating the need for country-specific modem configurations while reducing BOM costs and board space.”

In related news, Conexant Systems has announced the introduction of its second-generation CX92755 system-on-chip solution.

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