Wolfson Microelectronics has started sampling its first active noise cancellation chip specifically designed for mobile phone applications.

Voice communication is still the key function of a mobile phone with users now expecting to be able to make reliable, clear and intelligible calls even in the noisiest of environments. Ideally for an intelligible call you need to be able to reduce noise in both directions, enabling both parties to hear all elements of the conversation. Until now handset manufacturers have been able to reduce noise in the transmit path only, so that background noise is not transmitted to the other party in the call. However they have been unable to do anything about the ambient noise levels near the listener’s ear.

Wolfson solves this problem with a new ambient noise cancellation technology. Complementary to existing transmit path noise cancellation technology, Wolfson’s solution focuses on the receive path and uses active anti-noise to cancel background sound at the handset speaker.

David Monteith, vice president of business development at Wolfson says they are currently working with a number of manufacturers and believe handsets containing this technology will be on sale internationally during 2009.

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