Time to Market

The TMS320C6201 pushes the envelope with the most advanced features to cut development time

With 1600 MIPS, low-cost and an ultra-efficient C compiler, the new TMS320C6x gives system architects unlimited possibilities to reduce system cost, differentiate their products and shorten time-to-market.

TI's newest DSP -- available for sampling now and priced at less than $100 in volume quantities -- shifts the emphasis of designing systems from hardware to software. This means performance that not only eliminates the Internet bottleneck but also serves as a springboard to "unplugged" communications such as instantly sending voice or data to anyone from anywhere in the world.

Just as semiconductor integration shrank the massive mainframe to a notebook, TI DSP technology will do the same for real-time applications in the personal and data communications world.

Even early media reports say TI's new TMS320C6x "could be a turning point in the DSP arena."

This DSP generation provides the power to implement a robust programmable digital subscriber loop (xDSL) solution. Today's solutions require ASICs or a function-specific processor.

'C6x performance also enables personalization of electronics such as keyless home access via voice and face recognition.

"This DSP Solution will change the way we live," said Mike Hames, TI Semiconductor Group vice president and worldwide DSP manager.

"We know this performance will eliminate busy signals for the web user, but it's also not farfetched to see this revolution translate to radical changes like personal home wireless base stations, a total redefinition of medical diagnostics and cars that run on autopilot - the ultimate in cruise control with radar-based collision avoidance and global positioning systems (GPS) to map the route to your destination."

The TMS320C6x DSP generation -with 10 times the MIPS performance of other DSPs, a world-class C compiler and revolutionary Assembly Optimizer - means customers can bring differentiated products to market quickly through software. It's a whole new level of productivity and efficiency for the systems designer and reduced system cost for multi-channel and multi-function voice and data communications applications.

For less than $100 (25K units), or $0.06-per-MIPS, the new TMS320C6x processing capabilities, exceptional ease-of-use and affordable pricing make it the optimum solution for the communication industry's hottest applications, including pooled modems, wireless base stations, remote access servers (RAS), xDSL systems, cable modems and voice mail systems.

The TMS320C6201 ('C6201), the first fixed-point, 200 MHz DSP device based on the TMS320C6x ('C6x) generation core CPU, is the highest performing general-purpose, programmable DSP available today. A single 'C6x generation DSP can replace multiple current-generation DSPs. In terms of traditional DSP benchmarks, the 'C6201 performs a 1024-point complex Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in 70 microseconds, which is up to 10 times the performance of competing DSPs.

At 200 MHz, the 'C6201 operates at a five nanosecond cycle time, executing up to eight, 32-bit instructions every cycle. The device's core CPU consists of eight functional units, including two multi-pliers, six arithmetic logic units (ALU), 32 registers with 32-bit word length and 1 Mbit of on-chip memory. Production versions of the device also will feature on-chip timers and dual enhanced buffered serial ports that offer a glueless interface to T1/E1 communication trunks.

Samples available

The 'C6x generation offers the lowest price per function and price per channel of any DSP today. The 'C6201 is priced at $96 in quantities of 25,000 units. The 200-MHz, five-level metal, 0.25-micron 'C6201 is available for sampling immediately in an advanced-release version.

A production release version with enhanced peripherals, to be available from TI and TI authorized distributors, is scheduled to sample in the second quarter of 1997. Volume production is scheduled for the second half of 1997.

Future 'C6x generation members, both fixed- and floating point, will in-clude devices fabricated with TI's new 0.18-micron, five-level metal process, operating at speeds beyond 250 MHz. These DSPs will be disclosed throughout 1997 and beyond.

The 'C6x is the ninth generation of DSPs launched by TI since 1982. TI has maintained its worldwide market leadership for programmable DSPs and has gained market share for the last three consecutive years, according to DSP analyst firm Forward Concepts, Inc. Forward Concepts ranked TI No. 1 in 1996 with 45 percent share of the worldwide programmable DSP market.