Embedded Processor Watch

Senior Editor: Tom Halfhill
Contributor to this issue: Peter N. Glaskowsky, Senior Editor

In This Issue:

• Another New DSP Core From TI
• MAP-CA Ready for Prime Time
• Tidbits: Microchip Joins EEMBC
• Tidbits: Scenix Design Win -- Sennheiser Wireless Mikes
• Tidbits: Virata Design Win -- Ericsson ADSL Devices
• Industry Resources: Embedded Processor Forum

Another New DSP Core From TI

By Tom R. Halfhill

Texas Instruments has announced the TMS320C28x, its third new DSP core in less than a month. The 'C28x is intended for low-end digital-control tasks -- unlike the higher-end 'C55x and 'C64x DSP cores that TI announced a few weeks ago (see Embedded Processor Watch #90, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_90.html).

The new 'C28x core is designed for DSPs in the $10 range. It extends TI's 'C2000 series of 16-bit fixed-point DSPs, often used as motor controllers in consumer appliances, disk drives, and industrial equipment. TI plans to begin sampling the 'C28x to lead customers in 4Q00 and start volume production in 2H01. By then, TI will have a 0.13-micron IC process that should allow 'C28x DSPs to hit 400MHz. (The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.MDRonline.com/mpr/h/2000/0320/141202.html).

MAP-CA Ready for Prime Time

By Peter N. Glaskowsky

After shipping two general-purpose media processors meant to support a wide variety of applications, Equator and Hitachi have announced the first application-specific member of their media-accelerated processor (MAP) family, the MAP-CA -- named for its intended market in consumer appliances. The MAP-CA is optimized for digital television and related applications. It comes with new core features and peripherals that enhance performance on video encoding and decoding, compared with the company's original MAP1000 processor (see Microprocessor Report 12/7/98, "MAP1000 Unfolds at Equator," http://www.MDRonline.com/mpr/h/19981207/121601.html).

The new chip is both faster and much less expensive than its predecessors. It operates at speeds up to 300MHz and costs just $40 in quantity, a great improvement over the die-shrunk MAP1000A's $110 price tag for 220MHz operation. The MAP-CA lacks some of the features found in the earlier chips, however. These deletions reflect the MAP-CA's tight focus on digital-video processing. They are meant to make the MAP-CA an affordable alternative to the combination of general-purpose processors and custom ASICs found in high-end digital televisions and related products. (The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.MDRonline.com/mpr/h/2000/0313/141104.html).

Tidbits: Microchip Joins EEMBC

Microchip Technology has become the 37th member of the EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC), an independent organization that develops and licenses cross-platform benchmark code for embedded CPUs (see Embedded Processor Watch #53, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_53.html). Microchip, which recently celebrated the production of its one billionth processor, plans to use the EEMBC benchmarks to measure the performance of its extensive line of 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers. For more information: http://www.microchip.com/. --T.R.H.

Tidbits: Scenix Design Win -- Sennheiser Wireless Mikes

Sennheiser Electronics has chosen a Scenix SX-series microcontroller for its new Digital 1000 wireless microphones. The microphones are designed for live concerts and theatrical performances that require high-quality audio amplification in large venues. Both the wireless transmitter and receiver in the microphone system will use a Scenix SX28AC chip. The SX28AC is an eight-bit controller that has enough performance (50 MIPS) to emulate common peripherals, such as UARTs, timers, and real-time clocks. For more information: http://www.scenix.com/. --T.R.H.

Tidbits: Virata Design Win -- Ericsson ADSL Devices

Ericsson has chosen Virata's Helium processor for some residential ADSL products, such as broadband modems. Helium processors work with standard PHY chips to enable broadband communications in single- and multiple-user devices, including xDSL modems, cable modems, and small routers. Virata supplies software that handles ATM, frame, routing, bridging, signaling, and SNMP (simple network management protocol) functions. For more information: http://www.virata.com/. --T.R.H.

Embedded Processor Forum: June 12-16

Registration is now open for the Embedded Processor Forum, which will be held June 12-16 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Vendors will introduce more than 20 new embedded processors, and analysts will present six full-day technical seminars. Embedded Processor Forum will give you the in-depth technical information you need to make winning embedded-design decisions. Due to high demand, we expect registration to fill up quickly. To get more detailed information about the forum and registration, visit the Cahners MicroDesign Resources web site at http://www.MDRonline.com/EPF or call 800.527.0288 or 408.328.3900.