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Technology Stocks : e.Digital Corporation(EDIG) - Embedded Digital Technology -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: IEarnedIt who wrote (11571)3/16/2000 11:01:00 PM
From: Paul Welch  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 18366
 
On DIGL and DNTK that Mary thanked you for--wow--I just checked out the charts. Uhmm.....Is there a thread that these names were being tossed around on?

Paul



To: IEarnedIt who wrote (11571)3/16/2000 11:42:00 PM
From: bob  Respond to of 18366
 
Another interesting post from TOBAGO on the Cirrus Audio Decoder. (Jon I'm sure you will have something to say here...)

CIRRUS EP7209 AUDIO DECODER WEAKNESS

There has been a lot of concern I noticed of the Cirrus new audio processor. IMO this Processor has several very weak links that every one needs to be aware of:

cirrus.com

First take note of the low power quote:

Ultra low power consumption for MP3 playback
87 mW (typical) for 44.1 kHz samples/sec, 128
kbits/second
50 mW for 22.05 kHz samples/sec, 64 kbits/second

The low power is only for MP3 playback. Guess what happens when you need to decode a CODEC like EPAC or ATRAC?
That's where the high speed (and power hungry) embedded SRAM memory is utilized.

38,400 bytes (0x9600) of on-chip SRAM for fast program execution
and/or as a frame buffer

The SRAM memory is used for the decompression CODEC algorithm coefficents. This means the SRAM memory is active and being cycled as fast as 74Mhz. This is sucking a lot of power (estimate as much as another 200mA). This is going to seriously impact battery life when not playing MP3 files! When playing MP3 files the SRAM memory can be put in SLEEP mode (estimate 20mA drain).

This is of course only my opinion but I have been a Test Engineer for high performance SRAMs and embedded Logic modules for 15 years so I do have some basis for these statements.

Also, keep in mind that it is VERY expensive to manufacture and test/Burn-In Embedded Logic circuits. And early stage reliability/spql problems are common which often delay when Manufacturing quantities can be produced.

IMO, MicroOS continues to be the hands down low cost solution for Multi-Codec/DRM Players.

Cheers, Tobago