Analog Devices' New Blackfin Family Offers the Fastest and Most Power-efficient Processors for Their Class

Analog Devices ADSP-BF531 ADSP-BF532 ADSP-BF533

Now available, ADSP-BF533 delivers 600-MHz, 1.2 GMACS operation at 280mW; ADSP-BF531, also available now, sets new price performance level with 300MHz for $4.95.

Analog Devices announced the immediate availability of its next-generation Blackfin® processor family that delivers twice the performance and half the power consumption of conventional DSPs and embedded processors. The ADSP-BF533 is a 600-MHz/1.2 billion multiply accumulate operations per second (GMACS) processor. The low-cost ADSP-BF531 operates at 300MHz/600 million multiply accumulate operations per second (MMACS). Both Blackfin processors combine best-in-class digital signal processing performance with microcontroller functionality and embedded operating system support to meet the computational demands and power constraints of today's embedded audio, video and communications applications.

The processors require only 0.15mW/MMAC at 300 MHz and at 600 MHz performance levels, the power consumption of the ADSP-BF533 is only 280 mW. To optimize the advantages of the Blackfin architecture's Dynamic Power Management capability, the new processors integrate an on-chip switching regulator that permits programmable control of the core voltage - from 0.7 V to 1.2 V - from a single I/O supply - thereby reducing overall system costs and external power supply components.

The new Blackfin devices also support embedded operating systems such as Embedded Linux, ThreadX and Nucleus. In addition, the video optimizations within the Blackfin processors enable fully-programmable D1/VGA real-time video and multi-channel audio without the complexity or inflexibility of dedicated hardware or heterogeneous dual-core approaches. Using the programmable Blackfin processors enables fast time-to-market and easy support for new and emerging media formats such as MPEG-4, H.264 and Windows Media .

All new members of the Blackfin processor family are pin-for-pin and code compatible and offer new levels of peripheral integration, including glue-less connection to an array of ITU-R 656 video encoders and decoders, as well as high-speed analog-to-digital (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters at up to 65 MSPS (mega samples per second). The dedicated video port on all members of the family is supported by an innovative 2-dimensional DMA structure that significantly reduces software overhead and system power consumption for real-time video applications. Two dedicated serial ports support up to eight channels of IIS (I2S) audio.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of all new members of the Blackfin processor family are available now in BGA packages. All Blackfin processors integrate on-chip memory, a dedicated video port and extensive I/O.

The ADSP-BF533 is offered in two frequency grades - 500 MHz (1000 MMAC) and 600 MHz (1200 MMAC) for $16.95 and $19.95, respectively in quantities of 10,000 units. Both versions are packaged in a space-saving, 12mm x 12mm 160-ball Mini-BGA package.

The ADSP-BF531 is available now in 160-ball Mini-BGA version, at 400 MHz, and is offered at $5.95, while the 300 MHz LQFP version, available in Q3, 2003, is offered at $4.95. Prices are per unit in 10,000-piece quantities.

Previously available at 300 MHz, the company also announces today that its ADSP-BF532 is now available at 400 MHz in the same 160-ball Mini-BGA package, as well as a 300 MHz 176-lead LQFP version that will be available in Q3, 2003. Both versions of the ADSP-BF532 are priced at $9.95 per unit in quantities of 10,000 units.

Programmable in C and C++, all Blackfin processors efficiently execute both signal processing and control code and are supported by Analog Devices' CROSSCORETM tools, which are available now for development.

About ADI's Blackfin Processor Family

Based on the Micro Signal Architecture (MSA) jointly developed with Intel Corporation, ADI's Blackfin processor family combines a 32-bit RISC-like instruction set with 16-bit dual multiply accumulate (MAC) signal processing functionality with ease-of-use attributes found in general-purpose microcontrollers. Dynamic Power Management enables breakthrough power consumption by allowing the simultaneous adjustment of operating frequency and voltage under application control.

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