Product category:
Intellectual Property Cores
News Release from: MIPS Technologies
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 07 December 2005
Cheertek to run set-top-box audio on
RISC core
Taiwan-based IC design firm Cheertek has licensed the MIPS32 4KEc processor core and MIPS Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby Prologic II audio decoder.
Taiwan-based IC design firm Cheertek has licensed the MIPS32 4KEc processor core and MIPS Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby Prologic II audio decoder Cheertek, a leading supplier of system-level solutions for digital consumer entertainment applications, is leveraging the MIPS architecture and robust software ecosystem to develop chips for advanced set-top boxes that will expand its presence in global markets
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 23 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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After evaluating competing products, Cheertek chose the MIPS architecture for its performance, cost and time-to-market advantages.
The synthesisable 4KEc core, a member of the MIPS32 4KE core family, gives licensees the flexibility to optimise applications for performance, size or power consumption.
The 4KE core family delivers 1.53DMIPS/MHz performance in an area as small as 1.0 mm2 in a 0.13um TSMC process.
Further reading
64bit soft core has integral floating-point unit
In response to customer demand for a 64bit synthesisable processor core with floating point, MIPS Technologies has introduced the MIPS64 5Kf core.
Boosted performance for 32bit soft core
MIPS Technologies has launched its next generation 32bit, high-performance, low-power core, the MIPS32 4KE family.
Licensees of the 4KEc core are broadly supported by a robust software ecosystem of operating systems, middleware, algorithms and tools for embedded applications such as digital set-top boxes, a market in which the MIPS architecture is the de facto standard.
Cheertek will leverage this performance to implement audio algorithms on the RISC processor, rather than on a DSP, enabling the company to accelerate development, lower overall system costs, and reduce or eliminate royalty payments to DSP vendors.
The company can further reduce costs by developing and maintaining a single audio subsystem across multiple products.
The MIPS Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby Prologic II audio decoders are two of several in the MIPS Soft Audio Suite, a comprehensive set of audio algorithms optimised for MIPS32 processors in consumer applications.
"Software is one of the biggest hurdles in cost-effective system development".
"By choosing MIPS, the number one architecture in the set-top box market, we give our customers access to an extensive software ecosystem that will enable them to cut costs while rapidly developing highly differentiated products", said Jack Chang, CEO of Cheertek.
"Few markets are as competitive as the cost-sensitive consumer electronics arena".
"Cheertek's expertise in cost-effective solutions, together with the MIPS architecture's superior performance and broad industry support, will offer system manufacturers the ability to compete more effectively", said Brad Holtzinger, Vice President of Worldwide Sales at MIPS Technologies.
"We look forward to working with Cheertek to strengthen our leadership roles in the design of advanced set-top boxes".
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