On February 18, Analog Devices introduced a new line of mixed-signal DSPs, the ADSP-2199x. These new DSPs are based on the ADSP-219x core which contains a 16-bit data path with a single multiply-accumulate (MAC) unit. The first two members of this family, the ADSP-21990 and the ADSP-21991, target motor control applications: both include a 14-bit A/D converter, a three-phase PWM output, and other control-oriented peripherals.

In January, IC Insights released a study showing that the four largest semiconductor vendors in 2002 were Intel, Samsung, Texas Instruments, and STMicroelectronics. Last month, these same four companies all announced processors targeting wireless products like cellular phones and wireless PDAs. Is it a mere coincidence that the world’s largest semiconductor vendors seem to be in lock-step pursuit of wireless products, or is this a sign of a fundamental shift in semiconductor markets?

Convergence was a clear theme among the most sophisticated products introduced at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show. One of the more intriguing examples was the Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox from RCA. This handheld device has a list of audio and video capabilities long enough to make a Swiss army knife jealous. Its list of hardware components is equally impressive: an internal hard drive, color LCD, and a bevy of connectivity options are only the beginning.

On December 17, 2001 Palm and Texas Instruments announced that Palm will base a set of next-generation handheld computers on TI's OMAP processor platform, which combines an ARM ARM9 microprocessor core with TI's 'C55xx DSP core. This announcement came as part of a agreement between the two companies that covers everything from collaboration on product development to joint marketing. Palm expects to introduce OMAP-based handheld computers in about one year.

On December 31, 2001, MIPS announced that it was dropping its patent-infringement lawsuit against Lexra as part of an agreement between the two companies. As part of this agreement, Lexra will assign its processor IP assets to MIPS and become a MIPS32 licensee. This announcement spells the end of Lexra's DSP-enhanced licensable core: Lexra is exiting the IP business and becoming a fabless semiconductor company focused on network processors.

At one time, most DSP applications were powered either by instruction-set processors or by application-specific fixed-function chips. There was a clear distinction between these two types of solutions and clear differences in the associated design methodologies: processors required software development, while ASICs required hardware design. Today, the line between hardware and software has been blurred, particularly with flexible architectures that combine instruction-set processors with custom, customizable, or reconfigurable logic.

Last month, BDTI published the first independent, in-depth report to evaluate the ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E processor cores. The ARM7 and ARM9 were not designed with the needs of DSP in mind, and these processors have no DSP-oriented features. Not surprisingly, BDTI's analysis shows that the ARM7 and ARM9 are not nearly as fast as mainstream DSP processors; for example, the 160 MHz Texas Instruments TMS320C54xx is about two times faster on DSP tasks than the 200 MHz ARM9.

Processor users often want a simplified way of comparing processors' speeds in DSP applications. To this end, BDTI publishes the BDTImark2000™, a single-number DSP speed metric based on BDTI's suite of DSP benchmarks, the BDTI Benchmarks™. Because it is based on realistic DSP algorithm kernel benchmarks, the BDTImark2000 characterizes a processor's signal processing speed far more accurately than traditional simplified measures such as MIPS or MFLOPS.

In tough times, technology companies often curtail research and development of new technologies and products. Too often, such cutbacks are penny-wise and pound-foolish: while they reduce expenses in the short term, they may also seriously damage a company's ability to compete in the long term.