IC targets communications

-- EDN, 11/23/2000

Spectrum Signal Processing's Solano communications IC is now a product on its own (Picture). The company developed the device to interconnect multiple processors on its families of board-level products. Solano uses a bidirectional, 512x32-bitFIFO model to feed four full-duplex LVDS (low-voltage-differential-signaling) links that operate as fast as 213 Mbytes/sec. An embedded DMA controller transfers data to and from SDRAM at speeds as high as 600 Mbytes/sec, and a custom synchronous-slave interface transfers data to and from I/O buffers at rates as high as 500 Mbytes/sec. Communication applications, such as third-generation cellular base stations, require a combination of signal-processing engines, including ASICs, DSPs, and FPGAs. The device typically connects to the external memory-interface bus of a DSP or other processing engine, and four high-speed links can connect to other Solano ICs, I/O modules, or processor nodes that are on or off the carrier board. Operating power is typically 1.1W at maximum throughput, and standby consumption is 0.3W. Prices start at $72 (10,000).

Spectrum Signal Processing, 1-604-421-5422, www.spectrumsignal.com.

at www.rscahners.ims.ca/ednmag/.

-by Nicholas Cravotta