DSP Cores

A core is the "guts" of the processor, i.e. the CPU, and may include peripherals. Many current DSP cores do not include memory, whereas the first LSI DSP core (circa 1999) and older TI DSP cores (circa 1996) do. Why? One reason is that a chip designer might want to use two or more cores on a chip that communicate over shared memory (e.g. the TI OMAP architecture uses a C5000 DSP core and an ARM core) or add virtual memory support. In either case, the memory hierarchy would have to designed separately by the chip designer.

A longer answer (from DSP Processor Fundamentals by Phil Lapsley, Jeff Bier, Amit Shoham, and Edward Lee, 1996, pages 13-14):

"A DSP core is a DSP processor intended for use as a building block in creating a chip, as opposed to being packages by itself as an off-the-shelf chip. A DSP core-based ASIC ias an application-specific integrated circuit that incorporates a DSP core as one element of the overall chip. The DSP core-based approach allows the system designer to integrate a programmable DSP, interface logic, peripherals, memory, and other custom elements onto a single integrated circuit..."

"Note that vendors differ in their definitions of exactly what is included in a 'DSP core'. For example, Texas Instruments' definition of a DSP core includes not only the processor, but memory and peripherals as well. Clarkspur Design's and DSP Group's cores include memory but not peripherals. SGS-Thompson's core includes only the processor and no peripherals or memory."

For core vendors, refer to the Berkeley Design Technology Inc. Pocket Guide to DSP Processors and Cores

Last updated 01/27/03. Send comments to (Mailbox) bevans@ece.utexas.edu