TI and SPIRIT Announce DSP Solution

HOUSTON, TX - Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE:TXN) and TI third party, SPIRIT-DSP, announced the availability of a digital signal processor (DSP)-based solution optimized for remote data collection, as well as applications requiring a telephony co-processor or voiceband processor. The new device operates as a "tool-box" solution, delivering 14 resident algorithms in ROM and up to 40kW of RAM to customize solutions. TI's TMS320C54CST Version 2.0 (C54CST) solution is ideal for customers who are developing remote data collection applications that integrate industrial control, voice functionality or other specialized functions using the peripherals of the DSP, such as telephony signaling. For example, the DSP can be used to send data from a field location to a central location. A host processor can connect to C54CST and easily run any of the 14 resident telephony, voice or data algorithms. Additionally, the C54CST has the ability to run up to four channels as a voiceband processor, which allows device manufacturers to build small customer premises networking equipment capable of handling multiple channels of voice streams. By using a single device to run more than one channel, the customer eliminates the need for a large central piece of office equipment. The connection is made easily through the Host Port Interface (HPI) and the necessary algorithms for remote data collection, telephony and voiceband processing are included on-chip for no additional fee. "The C54CST solution addresses the growing need to quickly, cheaply and reliably integrate low-bit rate telephony connectivity to industrial products," said Mark Mattson, TMS320C5000 program manager, TI. "Manufacturers of applications such as remote data collection, voicemail, speakerphones and small office telephony gateways will be able to more easily incorporate expanded, upgradeable functionality while enjoying lower costs and power consumption." In the past, manufacturers had to use multiple devices and deal with several vendors to negotiate for various data and telephony algorithms. This was costly, time consuming and ultimately offered no assurances of proper interoperation. With the C54CST, designers have access to a single, validated source that will speed them to market and eliminate the inherent costs associated with multiple third-party licensing agreements and substantial development delays. "SPIRIT-DSP is dedicated to providing the best price/performance voice and data solution for industrial customers," said Andrew Sviridenko, founding CEO, SPIRIT-DSP. "By combining many valuable algorithms into TI's programmable low-power DSP, we provide customers with the solution that is easy to use and highly scalable." The solution can function as a chipset controlled by a host processor through AT-commands sent via the UART interface, or it can be used as a FLEX chipset, programmed to perform customer user functions that take advantage of the optimized ROM contents. The C54CST offers all 14 eXpressDSP compliant algorithms in ROM and is capable of interfacing to industry standard DAA (data access arrangement). The resident algorithms include four data, four telephony and six voice algorithms. By providing all of the algorithms with the structured, easy-to-integrate telephony framework, TI enables manufacturers to enjoy further cost reductions. Additional algorithms, not on-chip, such as G3 Fax, G.723.1, G.729AB vocoders, T.38 and others are also available from SPIRIT-DSP directly, allowing designers to increase functionality of the chip while using very little memory. The C54CST also offers code compatibility with other C5000 devices. In addition to the software, this solution integrates the POTS interface for telephony applications, two McBSPs, two timers, the UART, and an HPI. With this level of integration, there are significant savings in terms of power and size. The C54CST operates under 50 milli-Watts of power and is available today in production quantities at $7.50 per 10k unit in a 12x 12mm packaging.