The first off-the-shelf DSPs to integrate the reprogrammable flexibility of on-chip Flash memory was recently disclosed by Texas Instruments. Available in the second half of 1996, the new TMS320F206 and TMS320F207 devices promise to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) offer new or user-specific features through Flash memory reprogramming. Providing faster access times and more erase/write cycles, Flash provides an improved non-volatile memory solution over standard EEPROM technology. Prior to the 'F206 and 'F207, this advantage was only available through the more expensive use of external Flash devices.
On-chip Flash memory eliminates the need for external Flash, reducing overall system costs. The ability to reprogram Flash memory allows product updates at any time-during development, production, and even after the product has been ship-ped. For example, an installed security system could be upgraded via phone lines by reprogramming the on-chip Flash with the latest detection algorithm without the added cost of sending a service representative to physically install a new ROM.
"Flash memory, of course, is not new technology on its own," said Ron Wages, TI DSP marketing manager, "but by integrating Flash memory on-chip with the DSP, TI gives designers unprecedented cost savings for Flash reprogrammability, which has been welcomed by OEM designers of end-use products such as hard disk drives, consumer electronics, networking equipment, telephones, and other communications equipment."
The 'F206 integrates 4.5K-word SRAM and 32K-word Flash memory with a T320C2xLP 16-bit fixed-point DSP core. The 'F207 adds to that mix a second synchronous serial port plus 16 general-purpose I/O pins. Planned clock speeds for the parts are 40, 57, and 80 MHz, for performance of 20, 28.5, and 40 million instructions per second (MIPS), respectively. TI has also announced two new DSPs that do not integrate Flash memory, the TMS320C204 and TMS320C205, extending the already broad range of TI's 'C2xx fixed-point DSP family.
All four of the new devices were developed using TI's customizable DSP (cDSP™) technology. TI customers using the 'C2xx family can easily migrate to their own cDSP designs, providing a high volume, lower cost option.
The 'F206, 'C204, and 'C205 will each be packaged in a 100-pin thin quad flatpack (TQFP), each with the same pin-out; the 'F207 in a 144-pin TQFP. Sampling for the 'C204 is planned for the second quarter of 1996. Sampling for the 'C205 and 'F206 is planned for the third quarter of 1996, followed by 'F207 samples in the fourth quarter of 1996. US suggested resale pricing for the new editions in 5,000-piece quantities are: 'C204-$7.50, 'C205-$8.90, 'F206-$14.40, 'F207-$15.80. A prototyping device, the TMX320Fxx, will be available in the second quarter of '96. Identical to the 'F206 but without SRAM, the prototype device can be ordered from TI and authorized distributors for development purposes.