Analog Devices aims mixed-signal DSPs at high-precision embedded control

Analog Devices aims mixed-signal DSPs at high-precision embedded control
By Semiconductor Business News
February 18, 2002 (2:01 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020218S0022

NORWOOD, Mass. -- Aiming to expand its reach in embedded control applications, Analog Devices Inc. today introduced a new family of mixed-signal DSP chips, which combines a C-programmable digital signal processor core and high-performance analog functions.

Analog Devices said the new ADSP-2199x series offers the highest dynamic range and fastest sampling rates available in a single-chip, general-purpose DSP.

In fact, the Norwood-based company is aiming the mixed-signal DSP series at embedded designs beyond the traditional motor-control and servo-positioning applications served by today's digital signal processors. The company said its new family has higher precision capabilities to handle industrial process automation, data acquisition systems, intelligent sensor interfaces, robotics, optical network control, and power systems control.

The ADSP-21990 chip integrates a 16-bit DSP core, which is capable of executing 160 million instructio ns per second (MIPS), and an eight-channel 14-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which handled 20 million samples per second.

The processor's A-to-D converter has a typical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 70 dB, according to Analog Devices. The performance is guaranteed over the full industrial operating temperature range (-40 degrees C to +85 degrees C).

The A-to-D converter's data is interfaced to the 16-bit DSP core memory using a dedicated direct memory access (DMA) channel. The company said this design permits sophisticated over-sampling and data extrapolation techniques in intelligent sensor interfaces by efficiently balancing the data throughput of the A-to-D converter with the computational capability of the DSP core.

The ADSP-21990 processor includes 4-kilowords of random access program memory, 4-Kwords of random access data memory and an external addressable memory space of 1-megaword. Another processor, the ADSP-21991, is pin-for-pin compatible with the ADSP-21990 and offers larger amounts of on-chip memory -- up to 32-Kwords of program RAM and 8-Kwords of data RAM, said Analog Devices.

Samples of the ADSP-21990 are available now with production scheduled for in the second quarter. Samples of the ADSP-21991 will be available by the third quarter with production set for the fourth quarter of 2002. The 21990 is priced at $18.45 and the 21991 is $21.95 each in quantities of 10,000. Both mixed-signal DSPs will be available in a 196-ball, mini-BGA package and a 176-pin TQFP package.