Summary:
PIMIC Inc. secures a design win for the Clarity NC100 noise-canceling chip.
The chip utilizes neural networking for superior noise suppression in edge and wearable devices.
Employs a processing-in-memory architecture for efficient AI inference.
Jetstreme architecture offers a 10x PPA advantage and dynamic AI model updates.
The Clarity NC100 will debut at CES 2025 with samples available in Q1 2025.
PIMIC Inc., a startup based in Cupertino, California, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a design win for its neural networking noise cancellation chip, the Clarity NC100, which will be integrated into a digital microphone from ZillTek Technology Corp. located in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Key Features of Clarity NC100
The Clarity NC100 is specifically engineered for single-microphone applications within edge and wearable devices. It excels in suppressing environmental noise, including wind and industrial background noise.
This chip employs a processing-in-memory architecture to execute AI inference, allowing it to effectively filter out noise while consuming only 150 microamperes of current.
A Breakthrough in Noise Cancellation Technology
According to Subi Krishnamurthy, founder and CEO of PIMIC, the NC100 chip represents a major breakthrough in noise cancellation technology, leveraging the latest advancements in deep neural networks and PIMIC's unique PIM (processing-in-memory) silicon architecture. He asserts that their neural network approach outperforms traditional DSP-based audio noise cancellation methods.
Jetstreme Architecture Advantages
PIMIC's PIM architecture, referred to as Jetstreme, is currently produced using TSMCās 22nm ultra low leakage (ULL) manufacturing process, utilizing SRAM as its in-memory array. The company highlights several advantages:
- 10x PPA advantage over existing near-memory processors
- Dynamic AI model updates
- Low power model reconfiguration
Additionally, PIMIC has introduced an ultra-low-power keyword-spotting (KWS) chip named Listen based on the Jetstreme architecture.
Integration and Availability
The Clarity NC100 chip integrates seamlessly into a microphone, optimizing PCB space and implementation without the need for software. ZillTekās digital AI MEMS microphone will present the Clarity NC100 at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, starting on January 7, 2025, with samples expected to be available in Q1 2025.
PIMIC was founded in 2022 and is making waves in the tech industry with its innovative solutions.
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