Thursday March 2, 9:00 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated Semiconductor Group
Texas Instruments Announces Industry's First Direct Rambus Clock Generator Enabling Breakthrough Graphics
Device Developed for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s PlayStation(R)2 Provides Key Infrastructure Component for Rambus Technology
DALLAS, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The industry's first clock generator device that enables ultra-fast, compact Direct Rambus© systems like Sony's Playstation©2 was introduced today by Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN - news; TI). The new device was developed in conjunction with Rambus for use in high-speed video cards and other graphics applications, including PlayStation©2, a new computer entertainment system developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI). See ti.com.
The CDCR61 is intended for embedded consumer and communications applications. With only 16-pins and use of an external crystal input, it is designed for smaller form factor embedded applications, while delivering quality clock signals to drive the Rambus memory system at up to 400 MegaHertz (MHz).
Cutting-edge three-dimensional (3-D) games and multimedia applications require higher memory bandwidth than has traditionally been available in small computer systems. Direct Rambus technology addresses this problem by defining a high-speed interface between memory controllers and RDRAM©s. The TI CDCR61 provides the extremely precise high-frequency clock synchronization needed to make the Direct Rambus interface work. The device leverages TI's low-jitter, analog-scalable PLL technology for frequency multiplication, and it utilizes a precision differential 400 Mhz-output buffer to provide the signal for the Rambus Channel.
``Rambus technology is a natural fit with the next-generation needs of highly-integrated, high-performance, low-cost systems,' said Laura Fleming, vice president of Alliances and Infrastructure, Rambus. ``Now the industry can see the success of the Playstation©2, which uses Rambus technology supported by TI's CDCR61 to deliver superior memory performance.'
Manufactured using an advanced CMOS process, the CDCR61 supports Direct Rambus operation at 300 and 400MHz. The device operates from two power supplies, one at 3.3 volt and the other at 1.8 volt. One differential output provides the clock, and a single-ended output is also available to supply half of the crystal frequency.
``Creating an extremely precise, high-frequency clock generator requires sophisticated analog design capabilities,' said Harry Davoody, vice president and Semiconductor Group manager, TI. ``TI was happy to put these capabilities to work for SCEI in developing the CDCR61. By leveraging our leading position in analog and mixed-signal design, together with our world-class manufacturing facilities, we were able to meet SCEI's aggressive schedule.'
Available now from TI and its authorized distributors, the CDCR61 is packaged in a 16-pin thin shrink small outline package. Suggested resale pricing is $2.50 in quantities of 10,000.
More information on TI's family of clock distribution circuits is can be found on the World Wide Web at ti.com.
The worldwide leader and pioneer in digital signal processing solutions since 1982, Texas Instruments provides innovative DSP and mixed signal/analog technologies to more than 30,000 customers in the computer, wireless communications, networking, Internet, consumer, digital motor control and mass storage markets worldwide. To help customers get to market faster, TI offers easy-to-use development tools and extensive software and hardware support, further complemented by close to 300 third-party DSP solutions providers.
Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company and the world's leading designer and supplier of digital signal processing and analog technologies, the engines driving the digitalization of electronics. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's businesses also include materials and controls, educational and productivity solutions, and digital imaging. The company has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at ti.com.
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