The rapid growth of the LCD TV market is creating new opportunities in the home entertainment markets. As part of this evolvement, consumers are demanding high-end audio quality to match the LCD TV High Definition (HD) video capability. This demand opens an opportunity for wireless audio solutions, as existing LCD TVs provide HD video while generating quite moderate audio quality due to small built-in speakers. These speakers must usually be limited in output power (< 15W) due to heat dissipation problems, when residing within the TV, as well as mutual interferences with the screen. Only by detaching the speakers from the screen, it is possible to offer higher quality speakers. Separated higher power speakers (60W-100W) in turn generate a high-end audio sensation and can provide true and complete “high definition” audio quality. Furthermore, LCD TVs are getting bigger and bigger and it is necessary to reduce their form factor. A natural way of doing so is by separating the speakers from the screen.

In addition, worldwide LCD manufacturers tend to offer an LCD TV with a home theater system in one bundle. In some cases, the vendors offer a Combo LCD TV, which includes a DVD as part of the LCD screen.

Until the IrGate™ platform was introduced, there were major obstacles towards the implementation of a functional, high quality, uncompressed, low latency, and low cost wireless solution for the audio markets. As IrGate has the traits of RF technology within an enclosure, i.e., an omni-directional operation, while simultaneously not being susceptible to various RF interferences, it is a technology of choice for implementing wireless solutions for these markets.

The IrGT801A chipset was designed to specifically support the demands and needs of the audio market. It supports the industry standard I2S interface, allowing seamless connectivity to any digital audio source, converter or digital amplifier. It can transmit up to 4 uncompressed PCM audio channels, with no line-of-sight required between the transmitting and receiving entities. Additional features incorporated within IrGT801A, like smart mute and speaker shutdown functionalities, provide audio system designers with a solution tailored to their needs.