VirtualLogix (formerly Jaluna) is sampling a version of its platform virtualization product that supports four new DSP-based digital media processors from TI's (Texas Instruments) DaVinci product family. VLX for Digital Multimedia (VLX-DM) will be fully released for TI's TMS320DM643x-series processors in mid-2007, concurrent with their launch, according to VirtualLogix.

One of the new TI DaVinci processors — the TMS320DM6437, targeting mobile devices with high-end digital camera features — appears to be sampling now, as is a version of VirtualLogix's VLX-DM for it.

Additionally, VirtualLogix is offering a “DM643x Accelerated Development Program” said to enable developers to begin new design projects immediately, using TI's existing TMS320DM642 platform, then target volume production with DM643x processors when they ship.

VLX-DM

VirtualLogix claims VLX-DM is the only product capable of running Linux 2.6 and TI's DSP/BIOS concurrently on TI DSPs — although competitor Softier also offers a version of Linux that can run natively on TI DSPs, and that has reportedly been used in IP-STB designs.

VirtualLogix says VLX-DM can spare device developers the cost, complexity, and power budget of multi-chip or multi-core designs, in typical high-volume consumer multimedia devices such as IP set-top boxes, netcams, and videophones. LVX-DM has previously shipped in Linux-based design wins that include Wintech's videophone design and Amino set-top boxes.

TI DM643x-series DSPs

TI's DM643x-series DSPs follow up the company's original DM644x- and DM642x-series DaVinci processors. The earlier DaVinci chips began sampling about a year ago, and recently have begun showing up in Linux-based design wins such as IP-STBs from Softier, Visioneering, and Wintech, as well as surveillance cameras and videophones.

The new DM633x-series chips appear to be based on the same C64x+ DSP core with DaVinci video extensions as earlier models, but with more modern interfaces and peripheral mixes. The DM6431 will clock at 300MHz, while the DM6433, DM6435, and DM6437 will clock at 400MHz, 500MHz, or 600MHz.

Function diagrams for DM6431, DM6433, DM6435, and DM6437
(Click each image to enlarge)

Touted features and peripherals include:

• Asynchronous external memory interface (EMIF); supports NAND flash, as well as asynchronous flash and SRAM, and HPI (host processor interfaces) on other TI DSPs
• DDR2 memory interface
• DSP subsystem internal DMA controller
• DSP subsystem interrupt controller (INTC)
• DSP subsystem power-down controller (PDC)
• Enhanced DMA
• EMAC/MDIO (Ethernet media access controller and management data I/O module)
• GPIOs
• CAN (controller area network) controller (except DM6433)
• HPI (host port interface) (except DM6431)
• I2C module (inter-integrated circuit bus)
• McASP (multi-channel audio serial port)
• McBSP (multi-channel buffered serial port)
• PCI interface (DM6433 and DM6437 only)
• Power and sleep controller (PSC)
• PWM (pulse-width modulator)
  
• 64-bit timer
• UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter)
• VLYNQ port (except DM6431)
• Video processing backend (VPBE) (DM6433 and DM6437 only)
• Video processing frontend (VPFE) (DM6431 and DM6435 only)
• Onscreen display module (OSD) (DM6437 only)
• Video encoder (VENC)
• Digital LCD controller (DLCDC)
• Charge coupled device (CCD) controller
• Preview engine
• Resizer
• Hardware 3As (auto focus, white balance and exposure)
• Histogram

Gerard Andrews, DSP marketing manager at TI, stated, “TI works closely with VirtualLogix to ensure our mutual customers can add advanced networking and UI features using Linux, and leverage the real-time performance of TI's DSP/BIOS kernel.”

Mark Milligan, VP of marketing at VirtualLogix, added, “VLX for Digital Multimedia, Linux v2.6, and TI DSP/BIOS kernel [enable] manufacturers to add rich functionality to digital video applications such as automotive vision, video surveillance, and video telephony — all at the lowest cost possible.”

Availability

VLX-DM is sampling now, as is TI's TMS320DM6437 DaVinci processor for devices with advanced camera capabilities. The full DM643x family is expected to reach general availability in mid-2007.

Additionally, VirtualLogix's “DM643x Accelerated Development Program” is available now.

 
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