Embedded Processor Watch

Editor: Tom Halfhill

In This Issue:

• Lexra Debuts Radiax DSP Extensions for MIPS
• Tom R. Halfhill Named Editor of E-Watch
• Microprocessor Forum 1999: Call for Proposals
• Industry Resources: Platform99 Conference
• Industry Resources: Man-Months, Myths, and Mortals
• New Embedded IC Announcements

Lexra Debuts Radiax DSP Extensions for MIPS

At the recent Embedded Processor Forum, Lexra rolled out the latest version of its (mostly) MIPS-compatible core, the LX5280. Even more interesting, the company unveiled Radiax, Lexra's own set of DSP extensions for the MIPS architecture. Lexra will license Radiax free of charge to any MIPS licensee.

The LX5280 runs at 200 MHz and has a seven-stage pipeline, prioritized interrupts, and the promise of a soft (synthesizable Verilog) version of the core. At the Forum, Vice President and CTO Patrick Hayes said the new core will be available at the end of this year or early in 2000.

Many of the changes pace those made by Lexra's competitors. Intel's next-generation StrongArm (see E-Watch #46) also lengthens its pipeline from five stages to seven, and PowerPC's new Book E extension adds two-level interrupts.

The bigger news was the introduction of Radiax, a set of 36 new DSP instructions and related enhancements to the LX5280's internal architecture. Radiax adds a second execution unit in parallel to the usual MIPS-1 ALU and doubles up on the core's internal instruction and data buses. Both ALUs can execute standard MIPS and the new Radiax instructions, although only one of the ALUs executes the Radiax MAC operations. This arrangement is more similar to Hitachis SH-DSP than to ARMs Piccolo, in that the Radiax instructions are integrated with the MIPS instruction stream.

By giving away the Radiax extensions, Lexra doubtless hopes to build support for Radiax among MIPS licensees. Broad support would avoid Balkanization of the kind Intels competitors narrowly avoided last year with disparate 3D extensions. Its ironic that Lexra should be licensing technology to MIPS vendors, since Lexra itself does not have a MIPS license.

Tom R. Halfhill Named Editor of E-Watch

Starting with this issue, Embedded Processor Watch is edited by Tom R. Halfhill (mailto:halfhill@mdr.zd.com). Tom recently joined MicroDesign Resources to cover embedded processors; previously, he wrote about microprocessors and other technologies for BYTE Magazine, and he has been covering the computer industry since 1982. Tom takes over from Jim Turley, who has left MDR to accept a position as vice president of marketing at ARC Cores. Please continue to send press releases and other embedded information to us at mailto:news@mdr.zd.com.

Microprocessor Forum 1999: Call for Proposals

MicroDesign Resources is now accepting presentation proposals for the 12th annual Microprocessor Forum, October 4-8, 1999, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. All proposals must be received by June 1.

We will consider proposals from companies making announcements of new high-performance microprocessor technology. Presentations must include significant technical detail and include new information not previously disclosed. Microprocessors disclosed in detail for the first time will be given preference. Areas of interest include processors for PCs, processors for workstations and servers, embedded processors, DSPs, and programmable multimedia processors. All presentation proposals will be kept confidential. Proposals may be preceded or accompanied by appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

Microprocessor Forum is the largest, most important technical conference in the microprocessor industry. Attendees include professionals from computer and embedded application OEMs, component suppliers, semiconductor firms, and the financial community. Press coverage of Microprocessor Forum is extensive and worldwide. Press credentials are issued for over 150 journalists from media outlets ranging from the Wall Street Journal to CNN. For more information, go to: http://www.MDRonline.com/events/mpf/99call.html or mailto:halfhill@mdr.zd.com.

Industry Resources: Platform99

It's not about horizontal surfaces -- it's about microprocessors, chip sets, graphics, and multimedia. Platform99 is a PC platform and technology conference to be held at the new Silicon Valley Conference Center in San Jose, California. The two-day event runs July 2122. Attendees can attend four briefings per day from a number of PC hardware and semiconductor companies, with more than 100 presentations scheduled. Embedded topics include presentations on core-logic chip sets, memory technologies, I/O interfaces, 3D graphics, home networking, and more. Early registration (before May 31) costs $895; late registration adds $230. For more information, or to register, contact InQuest (San Jose) at 408.985.7785 or visit http://www.platform99.com.

Industry Resources: Man-Months, Myths, and Mortals

The evergreen work on managing software projects, The Mythical Man Month, by Fredrick P. Brooks, is now available in a special anniversary edition (ISBN 0-201-83595-9; $25). Database Design for Mere Mortals, by Michael J. Hernandez, lends an air of reason to difficult projects using PowerBuilder, FoxPro, Visual Basic, or Access (ISBN 0-201-69471-9; $33). Both books are available from the publisher, Addison Wesley, by calling 800.824.7799 or by writing to bexpress@awl.com.

New Embedded IC Announcements

ADSP-2188M (Analog Devices): a 16-bit DSP that has 2 Mbits of on-chip SRAM, consumes 0.4 mA/MIPS at 75 MHz, and comes in a 100-TQFP package Price: $24.00/25,000; samples: 2Q99; production: 4Q99. Call ADI at 800.262.5643.

PIC 12CR509A (Microchip): an 8-bit ROM microcontroller with seven special-function hardware registers that consumes <2 mA @ 5 V. The 8-pin package includes six I/O pins. Price: $0.49/50,000; production: now. Call Microchip at 602.786.7668.

STi5510 (STMicroelectronics): a single-chip STB back-end decoder that includes a 32-bit ST20 RISC processor, an MPEG audio decoder, and an MPEG-2@ML video decoder. Price: $35/1,000; production: 2Q99. Call STMicroelectronics at 781.861.2650.

DS1814 (Dallas Semiconductor): a micromonitor that comes in a SOT-23-5 package and offers an active-low reset watchdog and a pushbutton reset that supplies a 140-ms reset-pulse width. Price: $0.72/1,000; production: now. Call Dallas Semi at 972.371.4371.