Ceva is targeting its IP-based approach to mobile phone platforms at next generation 4G systems with its first full-blown communications processor core.
The programmable IP-based DSP architecture builds on the firm’s existing baseband processing platform to support multiple air interfaces in software, including the most demanding 4G mobile standards; LTE class 5 and WiMAX II (IEEE 802.16m), alongside 3G, 3.5G, Wi-Fi, GPS and MobileTV.
For the Ceva-XC, the company has effectively has added a number vector processors to its Ceva-X DSP core to provide the processing capability needed for next generation mobile phones.
The architecture is scalable so typical a single vector processor would be used in a handset device and up to four in a silicon platform for 4G basestations. This would have a performance of 200 billion operations per second.
“This performance level will support multiple LTE/WiMAX channels in a single core, surpassing any other DSP available today for wireless infrastructure applications,” said Richard Kingston director of marketing at Ceva.
For basestation designs, Kingston expects to be competing with multiple standalone DSP devices from a supplier such as Texas Instruments.
The aim is to reduce the number of separate DSP and co-processors needed by providing the scalable processing performance in a single system-on-chip device incorporating the Ceva DSP core and IP.
The core implements power scaling, supporting multiple clock and voltage domains and low power operating modes.
The fully programmable architecture will handle LTE class 5 and WiMAX II complete transceiver paths on a single core, supporting the profiles for multiple antennas schemes such as MIMO 4x4.
Each vector unit consists of a 256-bit SIMD engine using 3-way VLIW and a large array of 16 MAC, arithmetic, logic and shift units.