The PPM-Audio is a Sound Blaster Pro™ compatible PC/104-Plus module designed to work with x86-compatible processors. It provides high-quality voice and sound reproduction for embedded systems. It can record, compress, store, and playback voice, sound, and music. An extensive selection of audio inputs and outputs on multiple I/O connectors make the PPM-Audio easily adaptable to various application configurations. It is well suited for industrial applications requiring annunciation, sound effects or other aural queues to enhance the man-machine interface. Both Windows® and Linux drivers are supported.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY
Audio Accelerator - The PPM-Audio board is based upon the ESS Technology 1980 Maestro-3 VLSI chip. It is a highly integrated PCI solution designed to deliver advanced PC audio features such as HRTF 3-D positional audio, Directsound acceleration and DVD AC-3 5.1 to 2 speaker virtualization. The ES1980 implements the multi-stream DirectSound and DirectSound3D acceleration with digital mixing, sample rate conversion and HRTF-3 filtering. The ES1980 also maintains full DOS legacy audio compatibility over the standard PCI (PC/104-Plus) bus.

The ES1980 includes a programmable audio signal processor and provides simultaneous support for multiple audio streams. With its built-in DSP core, the ES1980 uses its dedicated DMA engine to handle complex signal processing tasks with a bus-mastering PCI interface. The support functions ensure efficient transfer of audio data streams to and from the system memory buffers, providing a system solution with maximum performance and minimal host CPU loading.

The audio accelerator removes processing overhead from the host CPU which reduces cost, improves performance, and permits extended temperature operation since a less power-hungry CPU can be used.

Audio CODEC - The PPM-Audio includes the ES1921. It is a combination codec and audio mixer that is fully compliant with Rev. 2.1 of the AC97 component specification. The ES1921 supports full-duplex stereo operation for simultaneous record and playback. Voice, sound, and music are regularly sampled for record and playback at 48 kHz.

The major functions of the ES1921 include stereo 18-bit analog to digital (ADC) and digital to analog (DAC) audio signal conversion while also providing the interface and control logic to transfer audio data to the audio accelerator. A third 18-bit ADC is used for the microphone input.

Inputs and Outputs - There are seven external I/O sources for the board. They are Microphone Input, Line Input, CD Input, Auxiliary Input, Joystick, Line Output, and Speaker Output.

Microphone Input - The board supports a microphone input and includes a 20dB pre-amplifier that can be bypassed under software control. Its input is accessed via a 3.5mm miniature phone jack. Stereo recording is available through the Line-In jack.

Line Level Input - A 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack accepts standard 1V p-p line signals.

Auxiliary Input - This is a second input source available through a 3.5mm miniature stereo plug. Auxiliary CD Input - This line level input is provided primarily for feeding the CD-ROM audio output to the PPM-Audio module.

Line Output - An AC coupled output from the ES1921 drives up to 1V p-p line levels (for accessories such as headphones) into a 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack.

Speaker Output - The stereo speaker connection is through a 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack. The output amplifier is rated at 2 Watts per channel into an 8-ohm load.

PC/104-Plus Interface - The PPM-Audio's audio accelerator supports 32-bits of addressing and data, as well as the complete control interface to operate on the PC/104-Plus bus. It has a PCI bus master interface and is compliant with the PCI Bus Specification Revision 2.2.

Multiple PC/104-Plus boards can be installed on a single stack. A jumper block selects the module's slot position.

There is a PC/104 connector on the board that supplies +5V, +12V and ground. No other control or data signals are wired to it. It simply feeds those signals through the connector to the next module in a stack.

Software Drivers - The latest ES1980 drivers for the PPM-Audio board are available at the ESS Technology web site at http://www.esstech.com. Currently they support Windows 95/98/98SE/NT4.0/2000/XP. Typically these drivers are included on the Microsoft installation CD. The chip also supports DOS legacy audio programs.

Linux drivers are available. Check the web or contact WinSystems' applications engineers at the factory.

SPECIFICATIONS
Electrical
   PC/104 Interface: 16-bit, stackthrough
   PC/104-Plus Interface: 32-bit PCI, stackthrough
   Vcc = +5V ±5% @ 225mA typ. idle, +12V ±5% @ 100mA typ. idle

Mechanical
   Dimensions: 3.6" x 3.8" (90mm x 96mm)
   Jumpers: 0.020" square posts, 2mm centers

Connectors
   Speaker: 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack
   Microphone: 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack
   Line Input: 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack
   Line Output: 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack
   Auxiliary In: 3.5mm miniature stereo phone jack
   PC/104-Plus: 120-pin (4 x 30; 2mm) stackthrough with shrouded header
   PC/104: 64-pin, 0.100" (32-pin double row), 40-pin, 0.100" (20-pin double row)
   CD Input: 7-pin, 0.100" single row
   Joystick: 16-pin, 0.100" (8-pin double row)

Environmental
   Operating Temperature: 0ºC to +70ºC
   Non-condensing relative humidity: 5% to 95%