BDTI's DSP Insider Archives
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This month:
DSP Group Steps Up to New PlatformLast month the IP licensing division of DSP Group introduced its first platform offering, XpertTeak. The fully synthesizable XpertTeak platform consists of the dual-MAC TeakDSPCore core, data and program memory, and peripherals like timers, buffered serial ports, and a DMA controller. This platform strikes a middle ground between DSP Group's existing offerings of stand-alone DSP cores and application-specific combinations of DSP cores, software, memory, and peripherals. In another first for DSP Group, XpertTeak is available both as licensable IP and as a 200 MHz chip. This is an unusual approach, and it may give DSP Group a significant advantage over its competitors. Off-the-shelf chips typically provide a much faster path to market than IP-based system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs. However, SoCs can provide far lower cost and energy consumption than off-the-shelf chips. Hence, product designers often use off-the-shelf chips for first-generation products and later migrate to a SoC design. In the past, this migration has been difficult for DSP-focused applications. Although several popular general-purpose processor architectures are available both as of-the-shelf chips and as licensable IP, few DSP architectures are available in both forms. Hence, very little software from an initial product using an off-the-shelf DSP processor can be directly reused in a follow-on SoC-based product design. By providing one of the most popular DSP cores in both IP and silicon forms, DSP Group has significantly lowered the barriers to this migration. XpertTeak joins a growing number of platform IP offerings, including ARM's PrimeXsys wireless platform and Adelante's Galaxic platform. Although these platforms differ in many respects, all three platforms offer similar levels of integration, and all three vendors offer optional application-specific software and hardware libraries. Recent announcements suggest that additional platform offerings lie just over the horizon. For example, ARM, Adelante, and Philips have announced plans to collaborate on development of a common system-on-chip (SoC) platform. Meanwhile, DSP Group's IP division is on track for its third-quarter merger with Parthus, a licensor of application-specific platform IP. Licensable core vendors would be wise to keep an eye on the activities of these two new collaborations.
XpertTeak is available now for license and as a chip. Neither
licensing fees nor the price of the chip have been disclosed.
TI Upgrades Its Development InfrastructureThis May, TI introduced its XDS560 emulator. The key new feature of this emulator is its speed: according to TI, the XDS560 supports data transfer rates of over two Mbytes per second, compared to about 20 Kbytes per second for its predecessor, the XDS510. This higher data bandwidth will be particularly useful for video-processing applications, as it will enable real-time monitoring of video data. BDTI's experience in developing video applications suggests that real-time monitoring is a rare but sorely needed capability. (TI's “network video developers kit” announced in July should also ease development of video applications; it consists of a 'C64xx-based board with Ethernet, audio, and video interfaces, and sample code.) The XSD560 emulator uses the same JTAG-compliant port as the older XDS510, so the XDS560 can directly replace the XDS510. However, the XDS560 uses a new communications protocol to achieve its two Mbytes/second bandwidth. Most TI processors were designed well before the XDS560 was conceived, and only the 'C621x, 'C671x, and the 'C55xx currently support this new protocol. However, the XDS560 improves data bandwidth even for chips that do not support the new protocol. For these chips, the XDS560 provides twice the data bandwidth of the XDS510. Oddly, TI's performance leader, the 'C64xx, does not support the new protocol. TI says future versions of the 'C64xx will support this protocol. The XDS560 also holds benefits for large applications; according to TI, the XDS560 can download code two to eight times faster than the XDS510. Unlike the data bandwidth enhancement, this improved program download speed can be realized without use of a new protocol. In another recent announcement, TI unveiled the first three members of its “reference frameworks” family of production-grade software templates. These templates provide resource management code that makes it easier build interfaces between product-specific code and third-party algorithms, hardware drivers, etc. The intent of these templates is to shift application developers' efforts from critical but generic code to code that adds more value and creates product differentiation.
While none of these developments are earth shattering, they illustrate
TI's relentless drive to improve the breadth and depth of support for
application developers using TI DSPs. In the long run, this focus on
development infrastructure may be TI's saving grace. As the
performance gap between DSPs and competing technologies like
general-purpose processors disappears, DSP processor vendors cannot
rely solely on performance advantages for design wins. Instead,
processor vendors must offer compelling combinations of performance,
development tools, and application software. TI's long-standing
investment in development infrastructure gives it a better chance of
surviving the looming processor technology battle than many of its
competitors.
BDTI Case Study
This Month: Technical Due DiligenceAs the economic doldrums continue, established technology companies and venture capitalists alike grow increasingly cautious about their investments. The DSP chip industry, which experienced the first severe downturn in its 21-year history last year, has not been immune from this increasing investor caution. Although many DSP technology start-ups have developed valuable technology, potential licensees, investors, and acquirers are less willing than ever to accept vendors' claims about their technology at face value. Instead, they are turning to outside experts for technical due-diligence evaluations to assess and manage risk. Such due-diligence evaluations get to the heart of the value of the subject company's technology portfolio, resources, and prospects. For example, a thorough assessment of a DSP core vendor carefully evaluates the company's architecture, implementation, development tools, personnel, and market strategy. Analysts with strong backgrounds in processor architectures and applications, experience using development tools, and a solid understanding of the competitive market can best provide this type of assessment. BDTI has been providing technical due-diligence evaluations of DSP technology and technology providers to investors, acquirers, and technology licensees for many years. BDTI's independence and technical expertise makes it the natural choice for this work. In one recent example, a venture capitalist contemplating a multi-million dollar investment engaged BDTI's services for a due-diligence analysis of a DSP IP start-up. BDTI evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the company's technology, personnel, and competitive position, and identified key milestones for the company in each area. BDTI provided the investor with an insightful assessment of the company's chances for the success, reducing the level of risk and creating a clearer view of the value of the investment.
For more information on BDTI's due-diligence services, please visit
http://www.BDTI.com/products/services_advisory.html or contact Jeremy
Giddings (giddings@BDTI.com).
Impulse Response, by Jeff Bier
Frankenstein's CameraIs the lowly camera the focal point for a revolution in convergence devices? In the past few months consumer electronics manufacturers have shipped a camcorder with a built-in MP3 player and voice recorder; a PDA with a built-in camera and an MP3 player; and a cell phone with (you guessed it) a built-in camera and voice recorder. Are these devices harbingers of a golden age of consumer electronics? Or are they like Frankenstein's monster: technically brilliant but disastrous in practice? In some ways, the mere existence of these devices is promising, because it demonstrates a level of standardization that benefits a broad range of consumer electronics. In the last year or so a few key applications, operating systems, and processors have finally achieved critical mass. Examples of this trend include MP3 audio, Windows CE, and the ARM cores, respectively. These emerging standards have two important effects. First, they draw developers, making it easier to find the bits and pieces needed for a convergence device. MP3 decoders, for example, are available for most popular embedded processors. Second, they create confidence in the interoperability and longevity of these products: it only makes sense to build a camera into a cell phone if users can share the pictures with their friends. But as your mother told you, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Consider the refrigerator/PC combos touted in recent years. While it is possible—even practical—to add high-tech features to a refrigerator, it is hard to imagine buyers for such devices. Refrigerators last for decades, while consumer electronics are often obsolete in a matter of years. Who wants to use the same PC for 20 years? And the potential for unintended consequences in a convergence device can be frightening—what if the PDA half of your souped-up cell phone crashes and prevents you from placing an emergency call?
Clearly, the technology needed for powerful convergence devices is now
within reach. The challenge for today's product designers is to find
combinations that add utility, not just technical dazzle, and to think
carefully about the awkward—and potentially hazardous—effects of
these combinations.
New BDTI Seminar: “DSP Software Development”DSP software is different from other kinds of software—it makes unique demands on engineers and tools. BDTI's new seminar explains these demands and provides practical ways to meet them. The seminar will help improve DSP software performance, quality, and programmer productivity—for organizations new to DSP programming and experienced teams as well. The seminar emphasizes implementation topics such as tools, software architectures, numerics, coding, testing, optimization, and integration. For more information on “DSP Software Development” and other BDTI seminars, go to http://www.BDTI.com/products/services_training.html.
BDTI seminars are available for on-site presentation at your
location.
Free Information from BDTITake advantage of BDTI's analytical expertise by reading two articles that recently appeared in “EE Times.” In “Test Strategies Confront Streaming Audio Quality Challenges” ( “EE Times,” June 24, 2002), Bjorn Hori and Jeff Bier tackle the challenges of designing tests for digital audio applications. “Test Strategies” highlights the challenges created by high data rates, multiple operating modes, and tough real-time constraints. “FPGA/DSP Blend Tackles Telecom Apps” ( “EE Times,” July 1, 2002) introduces a new class of programmable devices—DSP-enhanced FPGAs. Senior DSP Analyst Jennifer Eyre discusses these new products, presents factors to consider when evaluating an FPGA for a DSP application, and previews early results from BDTI's ground-breaking new benchmarking study that evaluates the DSP performance of FPGAs.
For both articles, follow the links from BDTI's Web page, “Articles,
Papers, and Presentations by BDTI Authors,” at
http://www.BDTI.com/articles/info_articles.htm.
New Products and Services from BDTI
“Sounding Board”Would you like an expert review of your marketing presentations before you go out on the road? BDTI's “Sounding Board” service helps vendors of DSP-related products—chips, cores, tools, and software—develop accurate and compelling marketing presentations. BDTI's expert analysts will review your presentation, host a Q&A session, and give you specific, detailed suggestions for improvement. BDTI will help you achieve technical accuracy and ensure your message has the right focus for the target audience. For more information on this new service, go to http://www.BDTI.com/products/services_sounding.html
BDTI Compiler EvaluationBaffled by competing vendor claims of compiler efficiency for DSP application development? BDTI has developed a methodology to quantifiably and qualitatively assess the relative merits of C compilers for DSP applications. Developed over several years, BDTI's C compiler evaluation methodology is ready for commercial roll-out. BDTI welcomes a small number of early participants in a multi-client study. Interested parties, processor vendors, and compiler vendors should contact Jeremy Giddings at BDTI (giddings@BDTI.com) for further information.
“FPGAs for DSP”—BDTI Technology AnalysisIn “FPGAs for DSP” you will learn about a new class of DSP-capable FPGAs and learn why FPGAs are a practical solution for some DSP applications. You will benefit from BDTI's assessment of the latest DSP enhancements available on FPGAs from Altera and Xilinx, including results from BDTI's new benchmarking study of the DSP performance of these devices.
“FPGAs for DSP” is scheduled for publication this summer. For more
information on this and upcoming BDTI “Focus” reports, go to
http://www.BDTI.com/products/reports_focus.html.
About BDTIBDTI is an independent source for DSP technology analysis and optimized DSP software. From rigorous technical analyses of processors for DSP, such as the “Inside” series of processor analyses, to highly regarded technology training classes, BDTI is the trusted independent source for reliable information on DSP technology.
For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.BDTI.com.
The next issue of BDTI's “DSP Insider” is coming in September. Previous issues of BDTI's “DSP Insider” are archived on BDTI's Web site. Follow the link from http://www.BDTI.com/dspinsider.htm. If you have comments, suggestions, or other feedback about the “DSP Insider,” please send email to dspinsider@BDTI.com. BDTI's DSP Insider is a free monthly electronic newsletter published by Berkeley Design Technology, Inc. If our newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it regularly, please register at http://www.BDTI.com/dspinsider.htm.
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