Processor lowers the cost and power thresholds for HD video

The TMS320DM355 processor is the latest addition to Texas Instruments’ DaVinci processor family. Unlike previous DaVinci devices, this processor does not include a software-programmable DSP. Rather, it couples an ARM936EJ-S core with a video-processing subsystem and MPEG-4-JPEG coprocessor that are configurable through software executing on the ARM core. The less-than-$10 processor enables HD (high-definition) video products, such as digital cameras and IP (Internet Protocol) videocameras targeting a $250 end-unit price, as well as digital-photo frames and video baby monitors targeting a $120 end-unit price. Going with a configurable hard coprocessor instead of a software-programmable DSP helps the system deliver a power consumption as low as 400 mW to support HD MPEG-4 encoding and approximately 1 mW in standby; this power consumption level allows for 80 minutes of continuous HD-video capture with two AA batteries.

The processor supports HD MPEG-4 SP encoding or decoding at 720p and 30 frames/sec and JPEG encoding or decoding at 50M pixels/sec. The processor is available in 216- or 270-MHz clock speeds; these devices support only these rates because the video subsystem and coprocessor blocks operate at the same clock rate as the processor. The video-processing subsystem is the same set of engines that all DaVinci devices feature. The processor supports the same intellectual-property and API (application-programming-interface) model as the other DaVinci devices. The processor includes production-qualified, configurable HD MPEG-4 and JPEG codecs without licensing fees or royalties. The integrated peripheral suite includes high-speed USB 2.0 OTG (On-The-Go) device and mini-host with a PHY (physical) layer, a 10-bit DAC, 32 kbytes of program/data memory, 8 kbytes of ROM, 16- and 8-kbyte instruction and data caches, and an external memory interface that supports mobile DDR/DDR2.

The DM355 is available for sampling now in a 13×13-mm, 329-pin, 0.65-mm-pitch BGA package. The 216-MHz device sells for $9.75 (50,000), and the 270-MHz device sells for $11.49 (50,000). The TMDXEVM355 evaluation module is available now for $495. It includes JPEG/MPEG 4 SP/G.711 codecs, ORCAD schematics, and MontaVista Linux with drivers for the peripherals, video-processing subsystems, and Uboot loader.