INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR ROUTING OF AUDIO SIGNALS

摘要

An integrated circuit (39) for transferring audio signals between audio transducers and circuits that supply or receive digital audio signals, suitable for use for example in a portable, battery powered telecommunications device such as a mobile telephone, smartphone or portable digital assistant with telephone capability, comprises at least two sets of interface connectors (40a, 40b, 40c) for connecting to digital audio buses or links (38a, 38b, 38c) for communicating digital audio signals with the external circuits (31, 33, 37), and at least one digital audio interface circuit (43, 45) for converting the audio signals between the format used by the data link (38a, 38b, 38c) and the format used within the integrated circuit (39) (such as conversion between serial and parallel and multiplexing/demultiplexing multiple data channels that are time division multiplexed onto the data link). A routing system (74) is connected between the interface connectors (40a, 40b, 40c) and the digital audio interface circuit or circuits (43, 45). The routing system (74) is operable to route signals passing through a first set of interface connectors 40b so as to pass through a first digital audio interface circuit (45) and is operable to route signals passing through a second set of interface connectors (40c) so as to pass through the first digital audio interface circuit (45) or alternatively is operable to route signals passing through the second set of interface connectors (40c) so as to pass through the first set of interface connectors 40b without passing through any digital audio interface circuit as the signals pass between the first and second sets of interface connectors (40b, 40c), or alternatively is operable to perform both routings.