'C8x moves into the mainstream

TI, PDI, IAT to develop low-cost DSP Solutions for videoconferencing

New low-cost videoconferencing capabilities should be available in PCs soon, thanks to development agreements by Texas Instruments, Precision Digital Images, Inc. and IAT AG.

The three companies will supply the hardware and software technology necessary for offering low-cost videoconferencing solutions based on digital signal processors (DSPs) to manufacturers of PCs and PC equipment.

At the heart of each product design will be TI's TMS320C8x digital signal processors (DSPs), which are designed specifically for the demands of high-performance applications, such as videoconferencing and other multimedia applications.

Each company brings leadership technology to the alliance:

• TI: 'C8x products and industry-leading DSP design support capabilities.
• PDI: expertise in creating video subsystems for PCI Bus platforms to develop videoconferencing hardware suited to Windows 95.
• IAT: H.320 design knowledge in Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and Windows 95 applications for product development and testing; design knowledge in hardware structure on the board level.

Potential end-user applications include desktop videoconferencing compliant with the H.320 and H.324 standards, business and consumer video phones, and collaborative software such as interactive whiteboards, spreadsheets and word processors.

New hardware and software products resulting from the development relationships will be announced as they become available. Release dates are planned to begin in early 1996.

'C8x features

• Transfer Controller
  • 64-bit data transfers
  • 400 Mbytes/sec transfer rate
  • 32-bit addressing
  • Direct EDO DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM and VRAM interface with dynamic bus sizing

TMS320C80 features

TMS320C82 features

"TI's 'C8x DSPs brought affordable single-chip processing to multimedia applications for the first time. Now we have relationships with leading-edge companies to develop low-cost, highly integrated solutions for PC original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). With the right products and agreements in place, TI is building momentum in the videoconferencing market. This is just the first of many developments we plan for bringing affordable videoconferencing to the desktop."

Julie Gallagher, TI's TMS320C8x marketing manager

"PDI is excited about this development relationship because we see the great potential for low-cost videoconferencing in joining our technology with TI's 'C8x products and DSP expertise. We're matching our strength with TI's to create the next generation of PC videoconferencing products."

Wayne Smith, president of PDI

"ISDN is a huge new force in the videoconferencing marketplace. By working together with TI and PDI, IAT expects to deliver superior videoconferencing products with higher quality multimedia applications than we have seen to date -- and at prices users can afford. "

Franz Muller, IAT's vice president, engineering

February 1996, vol. 13, no. 1

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