Summary of ADI puts floating point Sharc DSP into the embedded mainstream
Analog Devices introduced the ADSP-SC58x, a multi-core Sharc DSP device integrating two Sharc cores with an ARM Cortex-A5 processor on a 40nm low-power TSMC process. This chip targets real-time audio processing by offering floating-point performance under 2W, overcoming power limitations of previous solutions. It features a fast Fourier transform accelerator and provides deterministic processing at 24GFLOPS, making it ideal for power-sensitive embedded applications where ARM CPUs face real-time constraints.
Parts used in the ADSP-SC58x Project:
- Two Sharc DSP cores
- ARM Cortex-A5 processor
- 40nm low power TSMC process technology
- Fast Fourier transform (FFT) accelerator
Analog Devices (ADI) has introduced a multi-core Sharc DSP device which it believes will remove the power limitations of using floating point DSP for highly determinisitic audio processing.
As a result it aims to encourage wider use of floating point DSP in real-time processing applications which currently try to use a system CPU, typically ARM-based processors.
To do this ADI has integrated two Sharc DSP cores with an ARM Cortex-A5 processor to management the extended interface peripherals, on a 40nm low power TSMC process.
“There is still a big need for real-time algorithm processing and the performance and power penalties of floating point DSP are so small now we see it being increasingly used instead of fixed point DSP,” said Colin Duggan, director applications marketing in ADI’s processor group.
Duggan believes the power budget of floating point DSP – this latest chip comes in at under 2W – will make designers consider the benefits of DSP instead of off-loading processing to the ARM-based CPU.
“There are clearly real-time limitations for ARM and the DSP architecture is tailored for the task,” said Duggan.
The hope is that the benefits of floating point DSP will now be considered for the ARM-based embedded processing market which is power sensitive and communications heavy.
The design aim of the ADSP-SC58x dual-core Sharc DSP was to keep overall power consumption under 2W.
This also includes a higher speed fast Fourier transform (FFT) accelerator in chip.
There is also a chip without the Cortex-A5 if you need to add increased DSP capability without the controller.
“It is a 24GFLOPS highly deterministic processor which is good for audio processing,” said Duggan. “But we recognised the Sharc was not efficient at running the system protocol stacks so we incorporated a Cortex-A5.”
For more detail: ADI puts floating point Sharc DSP into the embedded mainstream
- What is the primary purpose of the new Analog Devices device?
To remove power limitations of using floating point DSP for highly deterministic audio processing. - How many Sharc DSP cores are integrated into the device?
The design integrates two Sharc DSP cores. - Which processor manages the extended interface peripherals?
An ARM Cortex-A5 processor is used to manage the extended interface peripherals. - What is the maximum power consumption of the chip?
The overall power consumption is kept under 2W. - Does the chip include a specific accelerator for signal processing?
Yes, it includes a higher speed fast Fourier transform accelerator in the chip. - Can users obtain a version without the Cortex-A5 processor?
Yes, there is a chip available without the Cortex-A5 for increased DSP capability without the controller. - What is the processing performance rating of this processor?
It is a 24GFLOPS highly deterministic processor. - Why was the ARM Cortex-A5 incorporated into the design?
The Sharc architecture was not efficient at running system protocol stacks, so the Cortex-A5 was added to handle them.
