There's Much More than Intel/AMD Inside

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There's Much More than Intel/AMD Inside

While the main CPU in a personal or notebook computer gets a lot of attention, there are lots of other processors involved in those systems.

In many of the major subsystems, including printers, audio, graphics, video, and wireless, you'll find Tensilica's processor cores hard at work (see products with Tensilica cores, below). Just take a look at a notebook computer design:

Audio Processing

Sound quality is very important, even in notebook computers. No matter what audio input might be attached, the computer needs to be able to process it. So now the audio requirements of PCs and notebooks rival home entertainment system. Over 50 audio codecs have been ported to Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio DSP, so you can feel assured that you'll have the right software no matter what.

Wired and Wireless Communications

Tensilica is widely used for wired and wireless communications in computer systems and peripherals. Whether you're doing Ethernet, WiMax, WiMax, Bluetooth, or whatever, Tensilica's Xtensa processors can be customized to exactly match the datapath processing requirements.

Biometrics Processing

For security reasons, more notebooks and PCs are including fingerprint sensors. Tensilica's cores are designed into several of these modules, including those from Validity (see press release).

Image Signal Processing

Most notebooks and many peripherals include camera devices. Xtensa processors can perform the most complex steps in image processing, including color correction, image filtering, image stabilization, light processing and compensation, and focus enhancement. And Xtensa processors are widely used in the image processing steps for inkjet and laser printers. See how Xtensa processors are used inside printers for complex image processing steps.

Embedded Control

And don't forget the control function. Tensilica's Diamond Standard and Xtensa customizableprocessors are ideal embedded control processors in all of these subsystems.

Tensilica's processors are designed into:

• Apple iMac
• HP printers
• Epson printers
• Atheros Bluetooth chips
• AMD ATI Radeon Graphics
  



Apple iMacs

Tensilica's DPUs are doing the video processing inside the AMD Radeon HD chip inside the latest generation iMacs, introduced in May 2011.




HP Printers

HP Laserjet color and b&w printers by Tensilica licensee Marvell - originally Agilent in 2002, then Avago, now Marvell. These are some of the printers that use Xtensa processors:


Read the Epson Success Story. Multiple Xtensa LX processors are used in Epson's latest photo-capable inkjet printers and multifunction printers (MFPs). Epson's engineers added TIE instructions to customize different Xtensa LX processors, each for a unique step in the inkjet image processing chain. By utilizing unique features of the Xtensa LX processor, which allow direct high-speed data communication between the processors and thereby avoid the time delays of bus-based data traffic, Epson's engineers were able to reduce the time required to rint a single page to less than a third of that required by previous generation inkjet printers.Epson Printers


Atheros is using Tensilica's Xtensa processor in the AR3011 Radio-on-Chip-for Mobile (ROCm) products. The Atheros AR3011 is a highly integrated, all-CMOS single-chip Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR solutions specifically designed for both laptop and desktop PCs. Designed for the smallest form factor, the AR3011 has a very power efficient architecture.Atheros Bluetooth Chips

Atheros is also using Xtensa processors in their AR6XXX line of ROCm WLAN for mobile solutions, including the AR6001XL and AR6001GL.

AMD ATI Radeon Graphics

Tensilica's processors configured to accelerate video stream decoding are an ingredient in every UVD-powered AMD ATI graphics chip, including those with ATI Avivo HD video and display technology, which provdes PC users with crisp images, smooth videos and true-to-life colors. UVD is a dedicated video decode processing unit that offloads the CPU from the decoding process. UVD technology reduces power use, helps decrease system noise and helps to increase notebook battery life during HD video playback. AMD's graphics products provide for DirectX10 and DirectX11 gaming and allow PCs to be hooked up to big-screen TVs with HDMI and built-in 5.1 surround sound audio to enjoy Blu-ray and HD DVD movies.

UVD-powered AMD ATI graphics chips include the HD5000 serires, HD4000 series, the HD3000 series, the HD2000 series, the x1900 series, the x1600 series, and the x1300 series. Here are some representative pictures: