Heterogeneous multi-processor designs to dominate SoC market
MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 15, 2003 - LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE:LSI), a leading ASIC provider and licensor of digital signal processor (DSP) cores, today announced the creation of reliable and proven techniques for solving the complex design, development and verification processes that result from integrating RISC plus DSP processor solutions. As a pioneer of SoC design, LSI Logic is helping designers address the large percentage of System-on-Chip (SoC) designs that combine a RISC microprocessor and DSP processor core in the same chip. Building on their extensive partnership history, LSI Logic and ARM have collaborated on a number of key areas to provide the wider market with an approach that reduces the risk, cost and complexity of these systems.
DSP Interface Specification
Both companies have contributed to the development and publication of a specification standard for RISC plus DSP processor based system-on-chip IC designs. This DSP Interface Specification covers the hardware and software interfaces between the ARM and ZSP processor cores and is available directly from the ARM website via an online license agreement at http://www.arm.com/armtech/DSPSpec.
The specification covers an Inter-Processor Communications Mailbox (IPCM) that provides for commands, control messages, data transfer and synchronization between the ARM processor and the ZSP processor. The specification also includes debug and trace interfaces and protocols for multi-core debug, providing hardware and software developers with consistent methodologies for ARM plus ZSP-based system designs. Designed to be flexible, the specification provides for the inclusion of LSI Logic's ZSP-based peripheral sets, including DMA controllers and AMBA/AHB bus bridges as well as components from the PrimeCell™ library provided by ARM. The LSI Logic AMBA™-based ZSP processor interfaces and peripherals enable flexible development of complete DSP subsystems with examples delivered by LSI Logic.
ZSP Core Module Product Family
To further support designers, LSI Logic introduced ZSP Core Modules (http://www.zsp.com/news/101503_coremods) that enable ZSP processor silicon devices with FPGA-based subsystem designs to seamlessly combine with the ARM RealView® Integrator ASIC Development platform. Up to four ZSP-based Core Module boards can be mixed and matched with ARM Core Module processor boards, resulting in a wide variety of ARM + ZSP designs.
Multi-core Debugging Tools
Finally, the relationship between ARM and LSI Logic has resulted in the ARM RealView Developer Suite advanced multi-core debug tools providing support for the LSI Logic ZSP processor core family. The RealView Developer Suite includes the ARM RealView Integrator platform, now enhanced with the ZSP Core Module boards. The RealView Developer Suite tools are combined with the advanced phase and cycle accurate ZSP simulation technology, providing one of the most accurate DSP core modeling capabilities available in the industry.
"System solutions combining CPU and DSP cores are the new standard for many new digital devices in wireless and multimedia markets," said Prasad Kalluri, director of engineering, LSI Logic DSP Products Division. "LSI Logic is assisting designers by incorporating additional cost- and power-optimized product capabilities in support of a standard integration between the ARM and ZSP architectures. This ability to meet designers' needs highlights our position as the leading DSP core choice for next generation consumer products."
The ARM plus ZSP architecture standard is expected to span all generations of ARM processors, as well as all generations of the ZSP DSP family.
About LSI Logic Corporation
LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE: LSI) is a leading designer and manufacturer of communications, consumer and storage semiconductors for applications that access, interconnect and store data, voice and video. In addition, the company supplies storage network solutions for the enterprise. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1621 Barber Lane, Milpitas, CA 95035, http://www.lsilogic.com.
