03/19/01

3DSP NOW OFFERS SPEEDi RTOS FOR EMBEDDED APPLICATIONS USING ITS ADVANCED DSPs

IRVINE, Calif., March 19, 2001 - 3DSP Corporation, the leader in configurable, scalable digital signal processor (DSP) architecture, now offers a compact, highly optimized real-time operating system (RTOS) called SPEEDi for use in advanced DSP-based embedded control applications.

SPEEDi RTOS is specifically designed to deliver best-in-class real-time performance to embedded system designers using 3DSP's SP-3, SP-5 and SP-5flex configurable DSP cores. SPEEDi is targeted for applications where real time, low system overhead and code density are major concerns and features very low system overhead to reduce program execution time and very short interrupt disable time to reduce latency for fast response in control applications.

"Written in native code for the target DSP cores, SPEEDi is one of the most compact real-time resources available," said H. D. Boesch, vice president for marketing at 3DSP. "It's small size will assist designers in reducing on-chip embedded memory requirements for their DSP designs, leading ultimately to very compact silicon solutions that deliver lowest possible cost for a particular performance node."

In fact, the basic configuration of SPEEDi requires less than 340 instruction words to provide basic real-time executive functionality. Designers can choose to add function sets, such as semaphore, messaging and synchronous event handling, to match their application needs. Diagnostic levels can also be flexibly configured. For instance some developers might want full diagnostic capability during product development, yet minimum diagnostic code for final product release. The code size of a configuration with both semaphore and message functions and minimum diagnostics is less than 900 instruction words. SPEEDi also minimizes data memory usage by allowing the user to configure only those system resources the application actually needs.

Licensing fees for SPEEDi depend on the support package chosen by customers, and begin at $20,000 for basic set-up and linking support by 3DSP experts. Design teams can also choose a wide range of customize support programs at an additional cost, including such services as customization of the basic instruction set to optimize DSP performance in a particular application. SPEEDi is part of the 3DSP IP Gallery DSP Software Modules and is fully supported within 3DSP's HiFI SoC development platform to facilitate simulation and debugging of the target design.

About 3DSP

3DSP is a leader in implementing advanced digital signal processing solutions in silicon for embedded systems. The company offers the industry's only fully configurable DSP architecture, backed by a comprehensive object-oriented design environment and application-based intellectual property to speed complex system-on-a-chip (SoC) implementations to silicon with first time success. 3DSP's capabilities are used by Internet, broadband, wireless and multimedia designers to implement next generation products. For more information on the company and its products, visit www.3dsp.com or contact 3DSP headquarters at 16271 Laguna Canyon Road Irvine, CA 92618 (phone: (949)435-0600; fax: (949)435-0700).

3DSP Corporation, 3DSP, SP-3, SP-5, SP5flex, HiFI, IP Gallery and SPEEDi are trademarks of 3DSP Corporation.