Date: 20/11/2010

Dual-core processor from Synopsys for HD audio apps

Synopsys, Inc. has released the DesignWare ARC AS 221 BD dual-core processor for high-definition (HD) audio applications. Synopsys also announced three new enhancements to its DesignWare ARC 600 32-bit configurable processor family, namely an optional Memory Protection Unit (MPU), Power Management Unit (PMU) and single cycle 16x16 multiplier.

The DesignWare ARC AS 221 BD dual-core processor is optimized for HD audio SoCs targeting Blu-ray Disc and Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) 192 kHz/24-bit digital audio streaming applications. This dual-core processor extends Synopsys' DesignWare Sound-to-Silicon AS 200 processor family. The DesignWare ARC AS 221 BD dual-core processor occupies 0.81 mm2 in a 65-nm LP process, up to half the size of alternative solutions says Synopsys. The processor's power consumption is 0.26 mW/MHz.

The DesignWare ARC 600 family includes a full range of configurable and extensible 32-bit cores ranging from full-featured to ultra-compact configurations. All of the DesignWare ARC cores utilize a 16-/32-bit instruction set architecture (ISA) that provides both reduced instruction set computing (RISC) and full digital signal processing (DSP) in an easy to use, unified architecture.

The optional MPU for the DesignWare ARC 610D and 625D cores gives software running on the core the ability to control access rights to the memory. This improves performance by preventing a process running on the DesignWare ARC core from accessing memory that has not been allocated to it.
The optional PMU for the DesignWare ARC 605, 610D and 625D cores allows application software control over clocking and voltage for the core, allowing dynamic power consumption management.
The optional single-cycle 16x16 multiplier is available for the DesignWare ARC 601, 605, 610D and 625D cores. The new multiplier is an addition to the already available single- and multiple-cycle 32x32 multiplier configuration.

"By providing the DesignWare ARC AS 221 BD processor core solution which delivers 3.5 giga operations per second with full support for the Blue-ray Disc audio stack, Synopsys is helping designers implement advanced high-definition audio functionality into their SoCs," said Joachim Kunkel, senior vice president and general manager for the Solutions Group at Synopsys. "Shipped in more than 550 million ICs annually, Synopsys' high-quality DesignWare ARC processor cores are trusted by designers to help them reduce integration risk and achieve the performance, power and area requirements of their advanced SoCs."

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