HITACHI INTRODUCES SUPERH SOFTWARE MODEM.Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. has introduced software modem See soft modem. functions running on its SuperH digital signal processing See DSP.Digital Signal Processing - (DSP) Computer manipulation of analog signals (commonly sound or image) which have been converted to digital form (sampled). (DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive ) RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. microprocessors, the SH3-DSP and SH-4 devices, for cost-sensitive embedded systems applications. The ability to run fax and data modem functions in software on the same processor currently being used for other system tasks enhances the total system functionality while reducing the total system bill-of-material (BOM) cost. Where fax/modem functions were implemented as dedicated hardware, the SuperH Software Modem now provides this capability in software, eliminating dedicated modem hardware costs for a datapump and a controller. In addition, less hardware brings other benefits such as less board space and power consumption for the overall system. Since the processors are capable of running multiple channels of the fax/modem software simultaneously, the cost savings are scalable, unlike hardware implementations. "Hitachi is excited to offer the software version of data and fax communication solutions to system designers as an option from traditional hardware modems that can easily cost twice as much or more," said Abhi Dugar, marketing manager for Hitachi Semiconductor (America). "The SuperH Software Modem lowers total system cost for designers and ultimately for the end-user by eliminating multiple components from current hardware implementation, potentially taking advantage of any unused CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. processing capability, and thereby resulting in a more efficient system design." By adding modem capabilities onto the SH3-DSP and SH-4 processors, Hitachi is not only able to reduce the cost but also provide flexibility in the system implementation since the software is reconfigurable and not a fixed implementation. Target applications include embedded systems that require one or more channels of data and/or fax communication, in addition to other tasks, all running on a single processor such as handheld devices for Internet access, postage meters, remote cameras and home appliances. Besides networking and data communication applications such as residential gateways, fax-over-Internet-Protocol (FoIP), and routers for small-office-home-office (SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. ) environments, any application that requires data acquisition or transmission will benefit from this offering, such as computing or industrial applications. Applications that need Internet connection but do not require a high-speed digital subscriber line See DSL. (communications, protocol) Digital Subscriber Line - (DSL, or Digital Subscriber Loop, xDSL - see below) A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and (DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary ) or cable modem connection are ideal targets. In addition, before DSL and cable modem services are widely available, the SuperH Software Modem provides an interim solution for Internet access. ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. Standards and Tool Support The SuperH Software Modem software technology was jointly developed with and provided under license from the elemedia division of Lucent Technologies, Inc. The data and fax modem kernel running on Hitachi's SH3-DSP and SH-4 processors is licensed from the elemedia division of Lucent Technologies and is also compliant with the International Telecommunication Union International Telecommunication Union (ITU), specialized agency of the United Nations, with headquarters at Geneva. It was created in 1934 as a result of the merging of the International Telegraph Union (est. (ITU) V.xx standards, including V.90, V.34 and V.17. To pass compliance tests in foreign countries so that the soft modem can be hooked into telephone systems worldwide, Hitachi is performing homologation Certification, confirmation or approval. Data communications equipment is often subject to the homologation requirements of various countries. testing on its reference platforms to ensure that the modem will pass individual country regulations. V.34 and V.17 standards running on the SH3-DSP are available now. V.90 standard running on the SH-4 and SH3-DSP, along with reference platforms, will be released during the second and third quarters of 2000. The software is currently supported on Wind River Systems' Tornado suite of tools, and ATI's Nucleus operating system will be supported in the second quarter of 2000. About Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. Hitachi Semiconductor (America ) Inc. a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., in turn a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : HIT) supports the requirements of the North America market with a broad range of standard and low-power semiconductor solutions. Offering some of the industry's most popular RISC microprocessors and memory components among other semiconductor solutions, Hitachi provides chips to device manufacturers within industrial, consumer and emerging market applications. Hitachi has design engineering, research and development facilities in the United States. Hitachi Semiconductor's Website is located at http://www.hitachi.com/semiconductor. For more information, call 800/285-1601 or 650/463-8619. |
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