Cadence advances pervasive intelligence at the Edge
Summary
The Xtensa LX8 processor offers significant new capabilities to address the increasing system-level performance and AI requirements of processor-based SoC designs while still providing customers with energy-optimised Tensilica IP solutions. Processor and DSP subsystems must now support multiple concurrent algorithms and ever-larger width filters, so the ability to reduce the latency of memory accesses and limit DMA transfers of repetitive zeroes can greatly improve overall system performance. These enhancements include: • L2 cache: Offers performance improvements of 50% or more for cache-based subsystems compared to the Xtensa LX7 processor while reducing pressure on L1 caches • Enhanced Arm AMBA interfaces: Benefits include both original AMBA 4 AXI interconnect for easy integration into today’s high-performance devices and low-latency APB interface, further improving system performance while reducing pressure on the primary system bus • Enhanced iDMA: Improves 3D DMA transfers found in complex DSP algorithms while also adding compression/decompression support and expanding the physically addressable memory to 40 bits • Expanded interrupt support: Accommodates up to 128 interrupts to service the most demanding system-level requirements “We are pleased that Cadence is introducing a new generation of its Tensilica Xtensa LX product line,” said Jaeyoung (Jay) Jang, vice president of SoC at SK hynix memory solutions America Inc. “Having successfully utilised previous Xtensa LX processors in our SoC designs, we can confidently attest to their unparalleled efficiency and capability in application-specific processing. Leveraging the exceptional capabilities of Cadence Tensilica DSPs and Xtensa controllers, we have been able to create energy-efficient products catering to sensor, speech and vision applications, including cutting-edge biometrics, smart-home security and intelligent appliances,” stated Saleel Awsare, senior vice president and general manager, PC & Peripherals Division at Synaptics. Processors based on the Xtensa LX platform are widely used today in the most demanding audio/voice, automotive ADAS and embedded computing applications, so we have extensive first-hand knowledge of our customer’s challenges in the drive for ever-increasing system-level performance,” said David Glasco, vice president of research and development for Tensilica IP at Cadence.