Date
10/12/2012
PDF
Click image to enlarge: TI's new TMS320C665x processors consist of three pin-compatible low-cost power-optimized ICs for developers migrating from single core to multicore.
Cognitive radio, a collective term referring to Super Wi-Fi, Wi-Far, WRAN (wireless regional area networks), IEEE 802.11af, IEEE 802.22, and TV white space, is geared towards optimizing the use of available spectrum and expanding global access to the internet. Azcom Technology, a member of TI's Design Network, is also designing LTE and IEEE 802.22 standard boards based on TI's wireless-infrastructure SoCs, enabling faster and easier development of cognitive radio applications. TI's KeyStone-based TMS320TCI6614 and TMS320TCI6612 SoCs, which encompass a mix of radio accelerators, network and security coprocessors, fixed-and floating-point DSPs, and an ARM RISC processor provide the foundation for layers 1, 2, and 3 and transport processing for cognitive radio. TI's new TMS320C665x processors are also well suited for cognitive radio and consist of three pin-compatible low-cost power-optimized ICs for developers migrating from single core to multicore. The TMS320C6657 features two 1.25-GHz DSP cores, delivering up to 80 GMACs and 40 GFLOPs, while the C6655 and C6654 single core DSPs deliver up to 40 GMACs and 20 GLOPs, and 27.2 GMACs and 13.6 GFLOPs, respectively. Under normal operating conditions, the C6657, C6655 and C6654 dissipate 3.5 W, 2.5 W, and 2 W, respectively. Azcom Technology are developing a high-performance platform designed to meet the White Space Alliance's Wi-Far specification for cognitive radio applications. This platform comprises a hardware board based on TI's power- and cost-efficient TMS320TCI6614 wireless infrastructure SoC and complete PHY and MAC layer stacks. Azcom's platform enables the TV white space market to support devices from a distance of over 10 km, a major upgrade from current Wi-Fi spots that support devices from a distance of up to 10 meters. With built-in PHY and MAC layer stacks, developers no longer need to worry about DSP processing as it is all taken care of in the layer 1, making the design process easier and quicker for developers of cognitive radio applications. The evolution and success of using white-space spectrum is heavily contingent on the global standardization of IEEE, 3GPP, and IETF standards. Through the implementation of these standards, the White Space Alliance is helping make Wi-Far a reality, which will enable consumers to enjoy the benefits of using a stronger network than existing Wi-Fi spots, especially in rural areas where broadband wireless isn't available. Texas Instruments Azcom Technology White Space Alliance
