New TMS320C6743 DSP from Texas Instruments brings floating-point precision and fixed-point performance to ener

New TMS320C6743 DSP from Texas Instruments brings floating-point precision and fixed-point performance to energy-efficient, connected applications

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Single DSP combines integrated EMAC, increased on-chip memory and offers 100 percent code compatibility with TI’s TMS320C6000™ devices

HOUSTON (April 6, 2009) – Combining the ease-of-use and precision of floating-point programming with the connectivity and lower-cost options of fixed-point devices, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced the availability of the TMS320C6743 digital signal processor (DSP). Based on the TMS320C674x core, the new low-power DSP couples the high precision and wide dynamic range of TI’s floating-point TMS320C67x+ core with the higher system performance of TI’s fixed-point TMS320C64x+ core. Additionally, the C6743 is object code compatible with all TMS320C6000 devices so developers can easily design a broad range of energy-efficient products by leveraging existing software code. As the industry’s lowest-cost networked DSP, it integrates multiple connectivity options, such as an Ethernet MAC (EMAC) and multimedia card/secure digital (MMC/SD) peripherals. This makes the DSP ideal for applications including audio conferencing, power protection systems, industrial monitoring and test and measurement products, such as oscilloscopes. For more information, click here.

C6743 DSP key features and benefits:

Based on the C674x core, which combines the fixed-point C64x+ instruction set and the floating-point C67x+ instruction set to provide higher fixed-point performance and single-precision/double-precision floating-point for wider dynamic range in a single device

100 percent upward code compatible with devices based on the C6000 fixed- and floating-point cores so developers can get to market faster

Scalable and pin-to-pin compatible with C674x and TI’s OMAP-L137 low-power devices allow for the ability to expand an entire product portfolio ranging from low- and high-end designs using the same hardware and software platform

Wide range of connectivity options with an integrated EMAC and MMC/SD for designs that require high data transfer or Internet access, which also helps reduce cost by eliminating the need to purchase separate components to add network or wireless connectivity

Efficient EDMA 3.0 engine for higher system performance and better debug with exception handling and cache coherency visibility

192 KB of on-chip memory saves both power and cost by removing the need for external memory

Low power consumption with 490mW total power and 60mW in standby mode gives developers the ability to lower heat dissipation and increase battery life depending on use case scenarios

Pricing, availability and tools

The TMDX320C6743 DSP is available for sampling and is priced at USD $7.85 for quantities of 1,000 units. To jumpstart designs, developers can use the OMAP-L1x/C674x Starter Kit, TMDXOSKL137BET, which is priced at USD $395, includes a board-specific Code Composer Studio IDE and supports DSP/BIOS kernels. TI also provides complementary power management and analog signal chain solutions, including high-efficiency DC/DC converters, LDOs, battery charger ICs, ADCs, DACs and touch screen controllers.

http://focus.ti.com/pr/docs/preldetail.tsp?sectionId=594&prelId=sc09043