Intel Corp. embedded itself further into the wireless space last week as it demonstrated its Micro Signal Architecture, a fast digital signal processor for wireless handheld devices the company developed with Analog Devices Inc.
The product, which is capable of operating at speeds of up to 400 MHz, combines DSP and microcontroller functions onto one chip, according to Intel.
The company claims the MSA is twice as fast as other DSPs for wireless handheld devices.
The companies jointly developed and first introduced the architecture last December.
MSA will be part of an integrated baseband chipset for cell phones and handheld devices that Intel said it plans to announce later this year.
“Demonstrating working silicon with this level of performance and headroom is a tremendous milestone,” said Ron Smith, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s wireless communications and computing group. “Micro Signal Architecture is a key building block for the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture, and is ideal for processing audio, video, image and voice in next-generation wireless Internet devices.”
Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture quickens application and hardware development for next-generation wireless Internet devices and employs the world’s leading operating systems and global wireless standards to integrate and expand wireless systems, Intel said.
The companies state this is the first DSP architecture to incorporate Dynamic Power Management capabilities, which adjusts both the voltage and frequency necessary to realize optimum power.
Both companies have made available tools for developers to build software designed to work with DSP devices including compilers, simulators, debuggers and assemblers as part of Analog Devices’ VisualDSP integrated software environment.
“The joint development’s demonstration of functional silicon and development tools brings this breakthrough DSP architecture to a new level of performance, said Jerald Fishman, president and chief executive officer of Analog Devices. “We are redefining high speed, low power and ease of programming for real-time applications.”
