Continued...

DSP Redefined

"Our new 'C27x core provides world-class DSP performance with 100 MIPS performance and a well defined growth path beyond to keep the drive designer ahead of the curve in the tracks-per-inch race," said Briant Regan, mass storage marketing manager for DSP at TI. "It also offers the power of an advanced RISC microcontroller optimized for real-time control and data processing in storage applications - an ideal computing engine for advanced controller development."

"With all these capabilities, the new 'C27x DSP core actually redefines the meaning of DSP in the storage world," Regan noted. "Not only is it a calculation engine, it is truly an optimized data storage processor."

The 'C27x core will be implemented using TI's 0.25-micron CMOS process, providing 100 MIPS of calculating power at 100 MHz, better than 100 percent more capability than the most advanced DSPs currently in use for servo/spindle control. This will easily accommodate future servo/spindle control requirements brought on by new technologies in development, like microactuators, very high speed motors and 6x or greater DVD. TI has already produced working silicon and is engaged with selected customers on custom storage control devices. Full product release of the 'C27x core in 0.25 micron is planned for the second quarter of 1998. TI plans to migrate the 'C27x to 0.18-micron TImeline™ technology in 1999.

"This strategy provides customers with a real density leadership today at a reasonable cost and guarantees a low cost development path in the servo/spindle area for years to come," Regan noted. "In addition, increasing the processing bandwidth to well beyond 100 MIPS will yield nearly a decade of potential improvement for the drive industry. That's enough to take them through half a dozen or more product cycles without major reinvestment in firmware."

Next