» THE TOP PRODUCT IN THIS CATEGORY-an aggressively designed dual core digital signal processor from Analog Devices-led all other candidates in this crowded field by a wide margin. Well over 100 voters gave it high marks for its technical significance. It got top marks for "likelihood of use" as well. First reviewed by Patrick Mannion on January 26th, 2004.

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ANALOG DEVICES
Analog Devices latest Blackfin finds pair of cores
EE Times' Patrick Mannion says: "Taking no chances on inherent architectural features alone, Analog Devices Inc. has come to formally stake its digital media claim with a new line of beefed-up processors. Leading the charge is Blackfin's first dual-core implementation: the 600-MHz ADSPBF561 symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) chip. Handling 3 billion multiply-accumulate operations per second (3,000 MMACs) and selling for $19.95 in lots of 10,000, the 561 has a power consumption that ranges from 99.6 milliwatts at 100 MHz and 0.8 volt up to 747.9 mW at 600 MHz and 1.3 V. While the 533 single-core products announced last year had 148 kbytes of L1 on-chip memory, the 561 has 328 kbytes: 100 kbytes of L1 for each core, supported by 128 kbytes of shared L2 high-speed SRAM for data or instructions."
Readers say: » "While others have multi-core chips, this seems to be the first 'general purpose' dual core DSP. Maybe people won't be afraid of more than one processor." » "This is a neat and competitive product. It might be very difficult to fully utilize the dual-core capability in the software. Wish ADI could provide more example codes."
USABILITY RANK: 1

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THE MATHWORKS, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
The MathWorks, Texas Instruments unveil tool for faster control system design and implementation
eeProductCenter's Marty Gold says:"The MathWorks and Texas Instruments are providing embedded control systems engineers with the ability to visually design, implement and verify real-time control and signal processing algorithms with the launching of their new software development tool called Embedded Target for the TI TMS320C2000 platform of digital signal controllers. Targeting automotive, whitegoods and industrial control applications, the tool provides automatic code generation and peripheral programming support from Simulink. It gives users a direct connection between the design environment and implementation platform."
Readers say: "Simulation is going to be a bigger and bigger factor in development. This tool will help many enter into this better cycle of design." » "It's something that we could use today."
USABILITY RANK: 3

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CIRRUS LOGIC
Cirrus Logic beefs-up ARM9-based embedded CPU line
Marty Gold: "Adding fuel to the growing industry-wide support for the ARM architecture is Cirrus Logic's expanded ARM9-based embedded processor line, targeting a very wide range of applications that include digital media servers, audio/video jukeboxes, telematic control systems, intelligent house controllers, multizoned stereo audio systems, Internet radios, industrial controls, KVM controllers, biometric security systems and GPS devices."
USABILITY RANK: 2

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AGERE
Agere's Vision architecture targets wireless handsets
Marty Gold: "Agere Systems' announcement of its new Vision architecture for the smartphone/multimedia wireless handset arena is quite interesting. Agere's release is a new and a bit different silicon solution for this market. The silicon solution is a two-chip set. One chip contains all of the digital baseband circuitry; the second chip has the analog blocks. The 11 x 11 mm digital baseband chip boasts three separate processor cores: an ARM 7 based communications processor, an ARM 9 based applications processor and an Agere 16-bit 16xxx digital signal processor core. This segmentation allows each processor to be fully dedicated to its particular function and eliminates complications such as increased integration and debug times that often occur with solutions that offer combined communications and applications processing."
Readers say: "Very integrated chipset for mobile phones. good support for different mobile operating systems." » "The chipset makes handset design easier, allowing new features to be added quickly."
USABILITY RANK: 5

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ATMEL
Atmel's Floating-Point VLIW DSP/ARM7 Combo delivers 1 GFLOPS at 100 MHz
Marty Gold: "Atmel has added some new wrinkles in the DSP solutions arena by combining its floating-point VLIW digital signal processor core with an ARM7 microcontroller. Among them is the message that a floatingpoint DSP/MCU chip can be cost competitive with a standalone floating point DSP in such applications as hands-free phones, radar-based automobile collision avoidance and professional quality audio equipment. The combo chip, the AT572D740 Diopsis, goes for $30 in quantities of 1000 (industrial temperature range).
Readers say: » "It has a unique combo of floating-point DSP + RISC. It should find some high end applications whose requirements cannot be met by traditional fixedpoint DSP + RISC." » "Effective code compression is a very interesting idea. VLIW code is usually very demanding." » "More such combos are needed."
USABILITY RANK: 4

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TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
TI releases processor, up/downconverter for base station designs
EE Times' Robert Keenan says: "In an effort to enhance its position in the wireless basestation market, Texas Instruments unveiled a 90-nm digital signal processor that can process up to 600 voice calls as well as a new up/downconverter that can handle up 24 cdma2000 channels. Texas Instruments has spent the last few years compiling and integrating components to provide a complete line card solution for basestation developers. Now, the company is making enhancements to two of the key elements. On the DSP front, TI has ported its existing processor to its 90-nm process to craft the TMS320TCI100 processor, which delivers higher clock rates and lower power over previous generations."
Readers say: » "TI at its best as always." » "I am not too sure about the stability of 90 nm tech. It may take some more time before this tech is matured and stabilized. I will then be interested in this product." » "Far ahead of DSP competition for CDMA basestation."
USABILITY RANK: 7

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MICROCHIP
8-bit MCUs for Cost Sensitive Motor Control Applications
eeProductCenter's Murray Slovick says: "Let's first applaud Microchip for continuing to evolve its 8-bit MCUs for serious industrial applications while competing suppliers see only migration to 16- and 32-bit devices. The company has developed its P18Fxx31 line to appeal to appliance manufacturers. Ground zero in the war to win the hearts of appliance motor control designers is enhanced power efficiency. Using variable speed control rather than just on/off also reduces compressor noise and is not as hard as on the component in terms of usage."
Readers say: "Good expansion of their microcontrollers into more areas like motor control." » "I don't see anything about failure modes. If the chip dies is the connected motor off or running at full speed? That has significant safety implications." » "Kudos to Microchip for not abandoning the 8-bit market. In many applications, simple, small, and low-power is all you need. Microchip products fit that description."
USABILITY RANK: 5

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ZILOG
Zilog's MCU packs temp sensor, transimpedance amp on-chip
Marty Gold: "Zilog has beefed-up the amount of peripherals circuitry that's packed onto its latest 8-bit flash microcontroller family. There is also a new MCU development kit for a mere $39.95, that the company is launching. Touting a high level of integration with low overall system cost, the new Z8 Encore! XP integrates a full range temperature sensor and a trans-impedance amplifier, which have their outputs processed by a sigma-delta A/D converter."
Readers say: "Like the idea of low cost development/evaluation tools."
USABILITY RANK: 5

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INFINEON
Infineon targets industrial sector with 32-bit MCU
EE Times' Anthony Cataldo says: "Infineon Technologies AG, a longtime supplier of microcontrollers for automobiles, says it wants to play a bigger role in industrial and communications markets and is fielding a 32-bit device loaded with peripherals to address them. The TC1130 is based on an enhanced version of the company's Tricore architecture, which has elements of RISC, CISC and DSP functionality. Infineon says the processing engine is built for speed. Its latest microcontroller, for example, can run at 150 MHz and can respond to interrupts in as fast as 27 nanoseconds.
Readers say: » "Multi-core heterogeneous architectures are the future for automotive control designs." » "Compelling if it runs CE."
USABILITY RANK: 6

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CATALYST
EEPROMs Benefit From DDR II DIMMs
eeProductCenter:
Readers say: Catalyst Semiconductor announced a new Serial Presence Detect (SPD) EEPROM that supports Double Date Rate II (DDR II) memory modules. For optimal speed and performance, all DDR II memory modules must have a SPD EEPROM that holds critical system information for the system BIOS. The CAT34RC02 is built around the JEDEC DDR II standard that defines reversible software write protect (RSWP) and permanent software write protect (PSWP) methods for the first 128 bytes of the SPD EEPROM. The CAT34RC02 supports RSWP and PSWP methods.
USABILITY RANK: 9