TI Announces New DSP Architecture That Renders MCUs Obsolete
New 100-MIPS TMS320C27x Digital Signal Processors Trounce Microcontrollers in Flexibility, Ease-of-Use and Cost-Efficiency
HOUSTON (March 23, 1998) -- The future of high-performance embedded computing was revealed today by Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) in the form of a new 100-MIPS digital signal processor (DSP) architecture. Designated the TMS320C27x, the new architecture unites in a single device the flexibility, ease-of-use and cost-efficiency of microcontrollers (MCUs) with the high performance of DSPs.
The 'C27x will enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to build tomorrow's real-time applications today. In office equipment, consumer electronics, computer peripherals, automotive electronics and a variety of other embedded applications, 'C27x devices will provide new high-performance capabilities at lower cost while cutting development time in half.
The combination of signal processing and control functions in a single chip will allow OEMs to replace two processors with one or to upgrade MCUs to DSP performance while eliminating supporting functions such as sensors and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). OEMs will no longer pay a penalty in programming time, code size or cost for having both a DSP and an MCU in a system, and for the first time they will be able to completely implement the most demanding real-time applications in a high-level language.
The DSP That Controls the Future of Real-Time Embedded Computing
'C27x-based devices will provide designers for the first time with DSP solutions that exceed traditional MCU strengths such as ease of software development, compactness of code and flexibility of interrupt handling. In addition, designers will be able to rely on 'C27x devices for growth in future system generations since the DSP far outperforms MCUs in MIPS and in its ability to process real-time signals. High-speed 100-MHz operation combines with the power of the DSP to perform sophisticated mathematical operations extremely efficiently, providing 10 times the performance of traditional MCUs while reducing system costs.
"The new easy-to-use TMS320C27x DSP architecture is designed to perform real-time embedded control better than any MCU available today," said Mike Hames, manager of TI's worldwide DSP business. " 'C27x DSPs will provide a future-ready solution to designers of embedded systems as they are required to supply ever-increasing levels of performance for sophisticated applications. It will be simple to harness this performance because the C compiler's efficiency will make it possible for designers to write all code in C."
Real-time embedded applications that demand DSP performance now -- and will increasingly do so in the future -- include multi-functional printers, faxes and scanners, hard disk drives, digital video disks, digital cameras, feature phones, interactive pagers, automotive systems, digital motor control, robotic and industrial control and many others. Image processing and stabilization in camcorders, global positioning systems (GPS) and advanced point-of-sale terminals are some of the applications that fuel the inevitable need for increasing performance that can only be attained with DSP solutions.
Balanced Architecture, Efficient Code
The 'C27x architecture combines DSP high-speed multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations with the intensive input/output (I/O) operations characteristic of MCUs. The result is that one device can provide the high-speed number crunching needed for real-time signal processing, together with the fast context switch and data manipulation capabilities required for control tasks.
To take advantage of the balanced 'C27x architecture, TI has developed an outstandingly efficient C compiler that can produce compiled code denser than that of MCUs. Approaching the architecture's native assembly code in density, compiled code for the 'C27x requires half as much memory as equivalent compiled code for earlier DSPs. For developers, this density gain can double programming productivity, as well as saving half the cost of program memory in the system. The efficiency of the compiler also supports the desire of many programmers to use C in embedded systems, since C code is easier to write, more readily ported to new designs and more maintainable than assembly.
"The 'C27x architecture allows designers to retain the broad range of functionality they expect from MCUs. At the same time, they can take advantage of 100 MIPS of DSP power to integrate the functions of multiple system components," said Hames. "The 'C27x's efficient code helps maximize the quality of MIPS used in applications, allowing more effective tradeoffs between memory requirements and performance."
The 'C27x is code compatible with TI's widely-used TMS320C2xx family of DSPs. Code compatibility preserves the software investment that thousands of TI customers have made in their use of 'C2xx products.
Optimized for High-Performance Embedded Applications
The 'C27x has been optimized for high-performance, real-time embedded control applications. The mass storage industry offers an excellent example of the benefits of this optimization. In systems such as hard disk drives and digital video disks (DVDs), the signal processing and I/O operations are balanced between the heavily-used servo and interface functions. New doors are opened by the performance possibilities of 100 MIPS because one processor can control several motors and handle multiple functions while performing more precise control and providing greater tracks per inch (TPI).
The 'C27x architecture has similar advantages in other embedded applications where MCUs have difficulty performing the high-speed number crunching needed. In digital cameras, for instance, DSP operations can supply the fast signal processing needed for high photo resolutions, as well as supporting fast compression for storing more photos in memory and decreasing time between snapshots. In addition, the device's low power requirements help prolong battery life.
Development Support Features At-Speed Emulation
Comprehensive development support for the 'C27x architecture is designed to surpass the high level of support that designers are accustomed to have with MCUs.
An important innovation for system debug and development is the inclusion of TI's new Real-Time Data Exchange (RTDX™) technology in the 'C27x hardware. Used in conjunction with an integrated JTAG-based visibility port, RTDX enables 'C27x developers to monitor, analyze and modify code executing at full speed (100 MHz) without impacting results or halting applications.
RTDX and the visibility port allow designers of 'C27x-based systems to isolate software bugs quickly and produce higher quality code in a shorter time. The ability to perform non-intrusive real-time debug at 100 MHz is a first in the industry, underscoring TI's commitment to providing the most advanced development environment available. By comparison, real-time emulation capabilities for other processors are limited to 30 MHz or less, severely impacting customers' ability to test their systems.
In addition, the 'C27x is supported by TI’s extensive third-party network with a wide range of software and hardware tools -- including debuggers, emulators, development boards and real-time operating systems -- from both the DSP and the MCU industries.
Process, Power Consumption Features and Availability
The TMS320C27x DSP core, the first implementation of the 'C27x architecture, is designed using a 0.25-micron CMOS process operating at speeds up to 100 MHz, with a roadmap for migration to TI's 0.18-micron TImeline™ technology. In 1999, the performance of the core is expected to exceed 150 MHz.
The core is optimized for 3-V low-power operation and is designed to draw very little power per MIPS. Fully static registers and a low-power mode help increase efficiency, and a small 3² mm core helps keep design sizes to a minimum. The core can be used in customizable DSP (cDSP™) designs with TI's library of ASIC functions, including random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash and standard peripherals. Built-in self-test (BIST) is provided in the core and memory for greater reliability.
TI is now engaging with selected customers for cDSP designs based on a 0.35-micron version of the TMS320C27x core, which will migrate to the 0.25-micron core scheduled for availability in the second quarter of 1998. Code development tools are available now, and 'C27x standard products are planned for the first quarter of 1999.
For more information about the TMS320C27x architecture, please visit the TI website at  http://www.ti.com/sc/C2700. The site will be open March 23, 1998.
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RTDX, TImeline and cDSP are trademarks of Texas Instruments Incorporated.
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