Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNS), a leader in global electronic design innovation, today announced that Realtek Semiconductor Corp licensed the Cadence® Tensilica® HiFi Audio/Voice DSP (digital signal processor) IP core for use with the TrulyHandsFree™ always-on voice activation and recognition technology from Sensory, a provider of IC and embedded software solutions. This combined low-power hardware/software solution allows Realtek to provide its mobile communications and computing customers with the lowest power always-on voice trigger and recognition capabilities, a distinct competitive advantage.Cadence Tensilica HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs are the industry’s most widely used licensable audio/voice DSP family, with support for over 100 proven audio/voice software packages. More than 55 companies have licensed HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs for use in smartphones, tablets, computers, digital televisions, home entertainment systems and other devices. The HiFi Audio/Voice DSP can run in ultra-low power mode to save battery life, waiting to detect sound based on Sensory’s Low Power Sound Detector, a feature of their TrulyHandsFree always-on voice control technology.

“Cadence Tensilica HiFi Audio/Voice DSPs are the de facto standard, with the most extensive selection of optimized and robust audio and voice software packages, and the best software tools support with C-based programming,” said Chuting Su, vice president of computer peripherals business unit, Realtek. “Standardizing on HiFi for our future mobile and PC products lets us meet our customers’ demanding low-power requirements for a wide range of performance, and Sensory’s software will help us create a platform for unique voice trigger and recognition capabilities.”

“By using the combined Tensilica/Sensory hardware/software solution, Realtek will be able to provide its customers with voice recognition capabilities that lead the market,” said Jack Guedj, corporate vice president, IP Group, Cadence. “Low-power always-on voice recognition is a key competitive differentiator in mobile devices.”