Press release: C6701 DSP
TI Introduces First Digital Signal Processor in Powerful Floating-Point Family
Universal Platform: First Fixed- and Floating-Point Compatible Architecture Tools Enable 1-GFLOPS System Development to Begin Today
HOUSTON (April 13, 1998) -- The first product in the world's highest-performing line of floating-point digital signal processors (DSPs) was disclosed today by Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE:TXN). The new DSP is both pin- and code-compatible with TI's industry-leading fixed-point TMS320C62x DSP, creating a fixed- and floating-point universal platform architecture enabling 100 percent reuse of fixed-point code for faster time-to-market. In addition, a new TI mixed-signal data converter connects to the DSP, providing an advanced digital signal processing solution.
The new TMS320C6701 DSP provides up to 10 times the performance of today's floating-point DSPs operating at 1 billion floating-point operations per second (1 GFLOPS) at 167 megahertz (MHz). This high performance level will allow manufacturers to reduce system chip count from as many as 10 DSP chips down to a single 'C6701.
The 'C6701 performance will enable faster speed, precision and dynamic range in next-generation applications such as wireless local loop and beam-forming base stations, virtual reality 3-D graphics, speech recognition, audio, radar, industrial control, and imaging such as fingerprint recognition, CAT scan, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among many others.
Universal Platform Speeds Time-To-Market
"TI's code-compatible fixed- and floating-point architecture will allow us to provide our industry leading OEM partners a universal platform for DSP algorithm deployment, allowing developers to achieve dramatic new levels in faster time-to-market, lower cost-to-market, and higher value-to-market," said John Landau, vice president of Strategic Marketing, Dialogic Corporation. "Using a single set of very powerful development tools, a development team can now create fixed-point and floating-point algorithms that can run as multiple algorithms and/or multiple instances on one chip. They can then select to deploy floating-point or mixed floating- and fixed-point algorithms on a Dialogic platform using 'C6701s, or save cost by deploying only fixed-point algorithms on the same platform populated with the lower cost 'C6201. A single platform design by Dialogic will support either chip."
The 'C6701 is the first product based on the TMS320C67x 32-bit, floating-point core that TI announced in October, 1997. All peripherals on the 'C6701 are 100 percent compatible with the fixed-point TMS320C6201. This enables designers currently developing with the 'C6201 to get 100 percent reusable hardware for a true drop and go transition. TI plans to triple performance of the 'C67x to 3 GFLOPS by the end of the decade and offer low-cost and multiprocessor 'C67x products.
The 'C67x product line complements and extends the advanced,
Very-Long-Instruction-Word (VLIW) VelociTIT architecture that TI developed for its industry-leading 'C62x fixed-point DSPs. The first 'C62x product, the 'C6201, can execute 1600 million instructions per second (MIPS), up to 10 times the performance of other fixed-point DSPs. The 'C6201 is now in volume production and is enjoying widespread customer adoption in numerous applications.
TMS320C6000 Tools Provide Universal Development Platform
The 'C6000 architecture is complemented by an ultra-efficient C compiler that supports both fixed- and floating-point and cuts development time in half by allowing programmers to write high-performance code in a familiar high-level language. Since the 'C67x instructions are a superset of the 'C62x instructions, developers can write and test programs on fixed-point 'C6201 devices, knowing that the same code will run successfully on the 'C6701. Conversely, when 'C6701 devices become available, developers can write and test programs on floating-point design, then easily migrate their systems to more cost-efficient fixed-point solutions.
The new floating-point DSP complements TI's existing floating-point product lines, the TMS320C3x and TMS320C4x. These two product lines represent the largest floating-point DSP customer base in the world. TI plans to offer a software translation assistant for existing floating-point customers who want more performance for their 'C3x and 'C4x designs.
New EVM Bundle Enables Design Development Today
In addition, TI announced the availability of a 'C62x family evaluation module (EVM). At $995 (U.S.), the 'C62x EVM is a robust, low-cost development platform that fully supports fixed-point application development and also enables a start to floating-point development. A special introductory offer, for six months only, gives customers who purchase the EVM for $995 (U.S.) a free C compiler valued at $1,495 (U.S.).
In addition to TI's tools, other support is available to simplify development and speed time-to-market. Developers can turn to the world's largest network of DSP third parties for software and hardware tools and design support. To date, 19 TI DSP third parties have started development to support the 'C6701 product.
Pricing, Packaging and Availability
Sampling of the TMS320C6701 floating-point DSP is planned for the second half of 1998. Volume production is planned for the first half of 1999. Once in volume (TMS), the device will be available in a 352-pin ball grid array (BGA) from TI and TI authorized distributors, with pricing planned at $196 (U.S.) each in quantities of 25,000. Military versions are planned in a 429-pin ceramic BGA.
The 'C62x EVM is $995 (U.S.) available today from TI and TI authorized distributors. Customers who purchase the EVM now through October 1998 will receive a free 'C6000 C compiler valued at $1,495 (U.S.). Limit one per customer. A floating-point version of the EVM bundle is scheduled to be available in second half of 1998.
The TMS320C6201 fixed-point DSP is currently in volume production. It is packaged in a 352-pin BGA from TI and TI authorized distributors. The TMS320C6000 Release 2.00 toolset is available from TI and is being shipped to registered 'C6000 customers.
TI's TLC876, a 10-bit, 20 MSPS analog-to-digital converter, works with the TMS320C6701. It supports the high performance 'C67x with high speed, high.... |
