Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Texas Instruments (April 2006-) | Subject: TMS320C5506
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2006
DSP cuts power to new lows
The TMS320C5506 DSP requires just 0.12mW of power in standby mode and includes other power-efficient features that make it the lowest-power processor in its class.
Continuing to drive innovation in low power audio/voice applications, Texas Instruments has announced the lowest-power addition to its line of ultra-low-power programmable digital signal processors (DSPs) The new TMS320C5506 DSP requires just 0.12mW of power in standby mode and includes other power-efficient features that make it the lowest-power processor in its class
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Among the many high-volume applications that can benefit from the C5506 DSP's low-power, memory, connectivity and affordability are touch screen controllers, USB headsets, cordless phones and hands-free car phone kits.
In a Forward Concepts survey included in its recent report: "DSP strategies: embedded chip trend continues", the results clearly indicated that DSP designers named development tools and power consumption as the top two considerations when selecting the optimal DSP chip for their designs, such as portable devices.
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Will Strauss, President of Forward Concepts said: "TI's attention to the needs of their customers is certainly reflected in the new C5506 DSP, which delivers the industry's lowest standby power consumption".
He went on to say: "With its current comprehensive power management tools, TI empowers developers to drive down power consumption to levels that are hard to beat".
A new option in TI's low-power programmable DSP portfolio TI's new C5506 DSP joins a feature-rich line of extremely low-power multimedia processors that includes the TMS320C5509A, C5507 and C5503 DSPs.
With the introduction of the C5506 DSP, system developers have a low-voltage, lower cost option that reduces power consumption even further to minimise the drain on batteries and prolong time between charges.
Attributes of the C5506 that keep power consumption to a minimum include: the industry's lowest standby power (0.120mW at 108MHz and 1.2V); very low core and memory operating power (for example, 58mW at 108MHz); dynamic frequency and voltage scaling; multiple standby modes that turn off individual peripherals and internal functions; and power optimisation tools to aid in low-power design.
Other integrated features that simplify design and help reduce system costs include a USB 2.0 full-speed port for PC connectivity, three MCBSP ports, three timers, I2C bus, six-channel DMA, 16bit EMIF and 36 GPIO.
The large number of I/O ports aid in peripheral device connectivity.
This also gives a good low power, low cost roadmap to customers migrating from the TMS320C54x DSP generation with needs for USB connectivity, higher performance or SDRAM memory connectivity.
The success of the C5000 DSP platform means that hundreds of off-the-shelf algorithms are available for TMS320C5506T DSP designers to save valuable time to market.
The C5506 DSP is an excellent solution for mass-market applications that require real-time signal processing performance yet need to keep power consumption low.
Touch screen controllers are moving to DSP-based control for greater precision, lower cost and greater functionality.
PC-connected USB headsets require plenty of processing for noise reduction, echo cancellation and audio streaming.
Hands-free car phone kits and cordless handsets used in wireless LANs, VoIP phones, deck phones, and other portable applications need a modem signal processor with low standby power for extensive ultra low power idle modes.
In each of these cases, the C5506 DSP provides the right combination of low power consumption, MIPS, memory, connectivity, small form factor and affordability for the application.
The C5506 DSP's advantages allow developers of these and other portable systems to create more robust, less expensive products with enhanced appeal for consumers.
"The C5506 DSP allows TI customers to reduce costs and add features that can open new markets for their products", said John Dixon, Low Power DSP Product Marketing Manager, Texas Instruments.
"This low-cost USB-enabled device extends the capabilities of TI's low-power DSP offerings, showing that TI continues to provide leadership in affordable portable communications".
Developers using the C5506 DSP can rely on the TMS320C55x Power Optimisation DSP Starter Kit (DSK), a comprehensive set of tools that reduces the time needed to find power bottlenecks in a design.
With the DSK, developers can accurately plan, analyse, manage and optimise real-time power consumption.
TI further simplifies power system design in portable applications with complete power management reference designs optimised to support C55x DSPs.
Developers can select highly efficient, small size and feature-rich low-power DC/DC convertors, linear dropout (LDO) regulators and supply voltage supervisors.
TI also enables longer battery run-time and system protection through intelligent battery management chargers, capacity monitoring and protection ICs.
The TMS320C5506 DSP is now available in volume from TI and TI Authorised Distributors.
The device is packaged in a 12 x 12mm microBGA, with suggested pricing of $5.75 in quantities of 10,000 units.
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