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.