Embedded Processor Watch

Editor: Cary D. Snyder

Contributors to this issue: Kevin Krewell, Max Baron, Steve Leibson, and Cary D. Snyder.

In This Issue:

• Mobile PIII Goes Lower (Voltage)
• Embedded Tidbits
• Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) lithography presentation at MDR Dinner on March 15, 2001

Mobile PIII Goes Lower (Voltage)
But is it the "Transmeta Killer"? By Kevin Krewell {3/12/01/-01}

The ultralow-voltage (ULV) version of the Mobile Pentium III that Intel showed on its mobile processor roadmap at MPF 2000 was rolled out on January 20, 2001. This is the chip that many pundits have referred to as the "Transmeta killer," because it offers very low power consumption without the controversial performance issues of Crusoe's code-morphing. It also offers OEMs an easy migration from Pentium III designs, with only minor design changes.

Each processor has its strengths and weaknesses, but it is evident that the Mobile Pentium III will outperform Crusoe on most applications, although Crusoe still has the edge on maximum (worst-case) power consumption. On "average" power dissipation, the race is a virtual dead heat.

The 500MHz ULV Mobile Pentium III is priced at $208, and the 500MHz ULV Celeron is offered at $118; both prices are for 1,000-piece quantities. Both processors are shipping now.

Embedded Tidbits
By Max Baron and Cary D. Snyder {3/12/01-03}

FastADSL From Analog Devices and Aware

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a vendor of high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications, and Aware, Inc., an international source for DSL intellectual property, announced on March 5 the availability of FastADSL technology. FastADSL is a software enhancement to Analog Devices ADSL chip sets, which, according to ADI, are found in eight of the worldís top ten public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and designed into more than 75% of the worldís xDSL systems.

With FastADSL, a single telephone line can carry two channels of broadcast-quality (MPEG-2) video, high-speed Internet access, and traditional voice services. Coupling the ADI chip set with FastADSL technology enables data rates in excess of 11Mb/s, nearly 200 times faster than V.90 modems.

The majority of households currently have more than one TV set, giving advanced video services that simultaneously support two or more separate channels of video great market potential. By adding digital television and video-on-demand (VOD) to their high-speed Internet access and traditional telephony offerings, service providers, such as telephone companies, will be able to offer a comprehensive bundle of services that use their existing ADSL and wireline infrastructure to compete effectively with cable and satellite services.

Analog Devices believes that the ability to deliver two channels of video is a compelling application of ADSL that has the potential to transform the telecommunications industry. It considers that combining its own signal-processing technology with Awareís intellectual property is one step toward making this technology a reality. According to Aware, FastADSL is an innovation that provides an economically attractive means for phone companies to leverage their existing equipment to offer high-value consumer services, providing a cost-effective means for operators to bundle advanced video services into their offerings.

Further information about these companies is available at their respective Web sites, www.analogdevices.com and www.aware.com. -Max Baron

New High-Voltage PICmicro MCU

Microchip Technology on March 5 introduced its PICmicro microcontroller with an 18V/40mA communications interface. According to Microchip, this new device continues the companyís efforts to provide broad connectivity solutions.

Designed particularly for consumer and industrial connectivity applications requiring a cost-effective communications platform, the PIC16C433 offers a high-voltage interface for electrically noisy environments and is specially designed for low EMI emission. Typical applications for the PIC16C433 focus on the appliance market (washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, etc.); industrial controls (i.e., as a sub-node to a CAN,controller area network) device-networked system); security and sensor applications (smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, etc.); and the consumer market (thermostats, photocopiers, etc.).

The company points out that the small-footprint PIC16C433 device increases systems integration, allowing more functions to be combined into fewer components. Featuring a four-channel, 8-bit A/D converter, the PIC16C433 is, according to Microchip, ideal for measuring analog signals (i.e., temperature, current, or voltage) and provides an effective interface to the analog world. On-chip peripherals include an 8-bit real-time clock/counter with an 8-bit programmable prescaler.

The PIC16C433 offers up to 2K words of OTP (one-time programmable) program memory and 128 bytes of data RAM. Except for two-cycle program branches, it features 35 powerful single-cycle instructions, each 14 bits wide. With the MCU and the local interconnect network (LIN) transceiver functioning within a small 18-pin package, the number of external components required is minimized, thereby yielding higher system reliability. Additional device offerings include Microchipís In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP), power-on reset (POR), power-up timer (PWRT), oscillator start-up timer (OST), power-saving SLEEP mode, selectable oscillator options, a watchdog timer (WDT) with its own on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation, and transceiver thermal shutdown for device protection.

The device also features built-in LIN Bus protocol capabilities. According to the company, the LIN protocol, which serves as a new communications standard, is a cost-effective small-form-factor solution that improves reliability in distributed embedded solutions. Microchipís full suite of development tools can, it claims, lower development costs, increase development efficiency, and reduce time to market. A LIN Protocol Developerís Kit will be available this spring.

Pricing in 10,000-unit quantities for the 18-pin PIC16C433-I/P is $2.31 each. Samples are available now, and volume production is scheduled for April 2001. For more information on these new devices, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit www.microchip.com. -Max Baron

New FREEDM = 4x Density for IP Access

PMC-Sierra announced on March 5 two new members of its FRame Engine and Datalink Manager (FREEDM) packet processor family, the PM7388 FREEDM-336A1024 and the PM7389 FREEDM-84A1024.

The FREEDM-336 supports up to 336 T-1 lines and achieves a sustained wire-speed throughput for short Internet Protocol (IP) packets. The FREEDM-336 also supports up to 252 E-1 links, and PMC-Sierra says it is ideal for channelized nxOC-12 and OC-48 port card designs in edge routers, optical access equipment, and multiservice switches. The FREEDM-84 supports up to 84 T-1 or 63 E-1 links over 1,024 HDLC channels, and the company points out that it is ideal for nxDS3 and nxOC-3 port card designs. By integrating a dedicated multilink packet processor engine, the new FREEDM devices provide more than four times the density achievable with earlier CPU and FPGA solutions.

Demand for high-data-rate applications is pushing the WAN bandwidth requirement for many business users beyond the capability of a single T-1/E-1 link. The next service level above the T-1 1.544Mb/s is a large jump to the 45Mb/s T-3, which has limited deployment in the access network and may not offer users bandwidth relief at the target price point. According to PMC-Sierra, Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol (ML-PPP) and Multilink Frame Relay (ML-FR) are standards-compliant solutions designed to bridge the bandwidth gap between T-1/E-1 and T-3/E-3 by supporting dynamic bandwidth allocation in multiple T-1/E-1 rates.

The FREEDM-336 and FREEDM-84 expand PMC-Sierraís multiservice architecture. Together with PMC-Sierraís SPECTRA (SONET), S/UNI-IMA (ATM inverse multiplexer), TEMUX (AAL1 voice-over-ATM), AAL1gator (voice-over-IP/ATM processor), and MECA product families, a single design can support all the major protocols at the edge of the network. The company claims that this chip set satisfies the physical and power constraints found in the newest edge-router and switch equipment and that a complete channelized OC-48 or 4xOC-12 solution requires only a single SPECTRA-2488, 16 TEMUX-84s, and four FREEDM-336s.

The FREEDM-336 and FREEDM-84 devices are packaged in a 40 x 40mm2 520-pin SBGA package. The FREEDM-336 is priced at $1,668 in 1,000-unit quantities through distribution. The FREEDM-84 is priced at $575 in 1,000-unit quantities through distribution. Both chips are low-power 1.8V CMOS devices rated for industrial-temperature-range (-40-+85 degrees C) operation and will be sampling in 2Q01. A comprehensive support package that includes datasheets, software drivers, user manual, hardware reference designs, device models, and a technical overview is available on PMC-Sierraís Web site at www.pmc-sierra.com. -Max Baron

Optimal Digital Audio Apps for ARM7

Spatializer Audio Laboratories Inc., which developed and marketed the 'de facto' standard for virtual surround sound, announced on March 5 that it has optimized the Spatializer DigitalFX software for ARM7-compatible processors for use in digital audio applications. The software provides enhanced audio performance for MP3 players, digital TVs, PDAs, car stereos, mobile phones, Internet appliances, and set-top boxes. The Spatializer DigitalFX series is a comprehensive audio-enhancement software solution based on the companyís Spatializer N-2-2 virtual surround sound technology and Spatializer Vi.B.E, the companyís virtual bass-enhancement technology, combined with additional audio effects tailored for specific product applications. According to Spatializer Audio, this combination of technologies in a single product targeted for specific product applications provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for the television, portable MP3, PDA, AV receiver, PC, and car audio markets. -Max Baron

Metalink Samples Centaur VDSL Solution

Metalink Ltd., a fables semiconductor company and provider of high-performance digital subscriber line (DSL) chip sets, announced on March 5 that it has started sampling the Metalink Centaur product to its alpha development partners. The Centaur solution is a standards-compliant chip set for asymmetric and symmetric very-high-speed digital subscriber lines (VDSL) for public network access and commercial applications.

VDSL is the first DSL technology to enable multiple streaming-video channel, voice, and high-speed data transmissions. VDSL provides service in two modes with high speeds: Asymmetric service delivers up to 52Mb/s downstream and 6Mb/s upstream, providing optimal access for residential use and streaming video; Symmetric access delivers up to 26Mb/s in both directions and is presented as a good solution for the campus networking, and LAN-to-LAN markets. VDSL is expected to solve the network bandwidth crunch with performance speeds far beyond those of any solution previously available.

The International VDSL standard was recently ratified by ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute), and the North American VDSL standard is expected to be ratified by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in May 2001. According to Katherine Bowen, research analyst with Cahners In-Stat telecommunications market research firm, "The VDSL market is positioned for success, bringing both a worldwide standard and much higher performance speeds, and making applications like streaming video a reality. We forecast that VDSL will open up a wide variety of new broadband consumer and commercial applications by 2002."

For more information on Metalink, visit www.metalink.co.il/. -Max Baron

SonicWALL Unveils New Security Processor

SonicWALL, a provider of Internet security solutions, announced on March 1 its new high-performance security processor. This custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) will be incorporated into SonicWALLís full line of Internet security appliances to create an advanced hardware platform for integrating firewall, VPN, and a range of other security services. SonicWALL will also license the ASIC to OEM partners to incorporate strong, high-performance security into their networking and security products.

According to the company, the SonicWALL ASIC accelerates Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) VPN throughput to a maximum speed of 45Mb/s by offloading encryption processing from the SonicWALL Internet security applianceís central processing unit. Removing the burden of encryption processing frees the CPU for other purposes, including processing additional security services like network antivirus, content filtering, and strong authentication using digital certificates and a public key infrastructure (PKI).

The SonicWALL ASIC is claimed to accelerate current standard IP Security (IPSec) algorithms, including Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) and Data Encryption Standard (DES), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1), and Message Digest (MD5). SonicWALL also says that the ASIC architecture further facilitates security processing by providing an IPSec-optimized interface to the host system. The new ASIC also integrates hardware-based random-number generation and a bus-mastering PCI interface. The company points out that no other external components for IPSec processing are required, resulting in a highly integrated and low-cost system design.

ASIC samples and design kits are available to SonicWALL OEM partners immediately, with production quantities available in 2Q01. More information about SonicWALL is available on its Web site at www.sonicsys.com. -Max Baron

PicoTurbo IP for Fujitsu Siemens Computers

PicoTurbo, Inc., a developer of 16/32-bit RISC microprocessor cores for embedded applications, and European computer company Fujitsu Siemens Computers recently announced a licensing agreement that gives Fujitsu Siemens access to picoTurbo microprocessor technology.

Fujitsu Siemens is licensing picoTurboís pT-100 and pT-110 32-bit high-performance, low-power microprocessor cores, which it will use in systems-on-a-chip (SoC) for its advanced product lines. These are two of the most popular items in the picoTurbo family of cores. Among other features, the pT-100 contains a five-stage pipeline for one instruction/cycle and code compression. The pT-110 contains a built-in cache controller in addition to the pT-100 features. A new class of digital applications in several Fujitsu Siemens product lines, ranging from notebooks to mainframes, will be enabled by these core microprocessor solutions. Fujitsu Siemens will also use them in developing new products.

Find more information about picoTurbo at www.picoturbo.com. Visit Fujitsu Siemens Computers at www.fujitsu-siemens.com. -Max Baron

Intel Moves to Acquire VxTel Inc

Intelís acquisition of VxTel will bring voice processing technology for optical networks to the companyís growing technology portfolio. Intel announced on February 25 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held VxTel Inc. in a cash transaction worth approximately $550 million. VxTel has developed unique voice-over-packet (VoP) products that deliver high-quality voice and data communications over next-generation optical networks.

VoP is the critical technology for enabling the transition from circuit-switched networks, such as traditional telephone and wireless networks, to pure packet-based networks such as the Internet. The industryís transition to a single multiservice network enables service providers to take advantage of the efficiency and flexibility of packet-based networks while expanding their ability to provide more differentiated voice, data, and video services to their customers over a single broadband connection.

VxTel develops high-performance digital-signal processor (DSP), software, and reference designs that help telecommunications equipment manufacturers deliver voice and data services over a unified packet-based network. VxTelís DSP chip was specifically designed for combined voice and data processing and is therefore more efficient for such tasks than general-purpose DSPs. The VxTel VoP package enables more than 2,000 simultaneous voice connections on a single plug-in card, making it the highest-density solution on the market today.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and to certain closing conditions. Upon completion of the acquisition, VxTel will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel, reporting into the Telecom Component Division of Intelís Network Communications Group. Dodani will continue to lead the VxTel operation once it is integrated into Intel. VxTel is headquartered in Fremont, California, and has additional locations in Boulder, Colorado; Irvine, California; and Bangalore, India. -Cary D. Snyder

Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) lithography
EUV is topic of MDR Dinner on March 15, 2001

Exciting news today from Intel Corporation that brings us one step closer to a 10-GHz microprocessor.

In a press release (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010308/0236.html) distributed this morning, the company announced that it has developed and delivered the first industry-standard format photomasks for Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) lithography.

That ís big news in the effort to make EUV the next generation lithography standard for the semiconductor industry. And it makes our dinner meeting on March 15 with Chuck Gwyn, Program Director at EUV LLC, more timely than ever. Chuck will be providing the fullest public disclosure to date of the consortiumís research, which is expected to take microprocessor fabrication four generations beyond the current 0.13-micron process and to become the dominant high-volume production technology before the end of the decade.

You won't want to miss his presentation. To sign up for dinner, or for morning and afternoon Microprocessor Report seminars being held earlier that day, please visit the MDR web site at www.mdronline.com/march15. Iím looking forward to seeing you this Thursday in Santa Clara!

Best regards

Steve Leibson
Vice President and Chief Analyst

Dinner Presentation

Reception 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Dinner 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Program 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Next-Generation Lithography for Manufacturing Microprocessors
Chuck Gwyn
Program Director, EUV LLC

Morning Seminar: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Inside Todayís PC Processors: Architectures, Microarchitectures, and Performance

Kevin Krewell
Senior Analyst
MicroDesign Resources

Afternoon Seminar: 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Information Appliances: Technology and Architectures

Steve Leibson
Vice President and Chief Analyst, MicroDesign Resources
Director, Microprocessor Forum and Embedded Processor Forum

Pricing: $99 for the dinner alone, $675 for the dinner and one half-day seminar, $595 for one seminar only, $895 for both seminars without dinner, and $950 for both seminars with dinner.

Advance Registration Required. See our website for more information.
http://www.mdronline.com/march15/