Microchip Technology’s AcuEdge ZLK38AVS Development Kit for Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS) introduces far-field voice pick up and the flexibility to build devices with multiple microphone array configurations. Reportedly, the solution reduces BOM costs while addressing the requirements of small-form-factor designs.
The kit features the ZL38063 audio processor, which includes a 300 MHz DSP and dedicated hardware accelerators for voice processing. It also features Stereo Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), which enables barge-in recognition to improve performance in extreme audio playback environments.
Available microphone configurations include:
- One-mic configuration – Offers hands-free voice coverage for products where form-factor or cost constraints preclude the use of a multi-microphone array.
- Two and three-mic linear (180-degree) configurations – Designed for sound bars, smart plugs and switches, set-top-boxes or other applications typically positioned against a wall that benefit from 180-degree far-field coverage.
- Three-mic triangular (360-degree) configuration – Also with far-field coverage qualified by Amazon, this configuration is well suited for applications that may require user interaction from any direction such as portable speakers, wide-angle IP cameras and voice-enabled Wi-Fi routers.
The development kit includes a ZL38063 audio processor that connects directly to a Raspberry Pi® 3B with plastics and mounting hardware to simulate a typical, recommended end-application mic-speaker arrangement. It supports all microphone options and includes an LED ring to report the detected sound location, as well as a high-quality speaker that is representative of a typical smart speaker application.
The ZLK38AVS Development Kit for Amazon AVS is available now for $299. For additional information, checkout the product page and visit Microchip.