Combining Risc Mcu And Dsp Functionality - Analog Devices Blackfin Getting Started

What are Blackfin Processors?
performance that had previously been the exclusive domain of very long
instruction word (VLIW) media processors.
Blackfin processors include advanced memory management that supports
memory-protected and non memory-protected embedded operating sys-
tems such as µCLinux, ThreadX® (Express Logic), INTEGRITY® and
velOSity™ (Green Hills Software), Nucleus® (Accelerated Technology),
Fusion™ (Unicoi Systems), and RTXC Quadros™ (Quadros Systems),
to name a few.
The Blackfin processor's unique combination of processing attributes
eliminates the need for separate digital signal and control processors,
which reduces bill of material costs and greatly simplifies hardware and
software design tasks. Blackfin processors present high performance,
homogeneous software targets, which allows flexible resource allocation
between demanding real-time DSP tasks and non real-time control tasks.

Combining RISC MCU and DSP Functionality

Blackfin processors provide both microcontroller (MCU) and DSP func-
tionality in a unified architecture, allowing flexible partitioning between
the needs of control and signal processing. If the application demands, the
Blackfin processor can act as 100% MCU (with code density on par with
industry standards), 100% DSP (with clock rates at the leading edge of
DSP technology), or a combination of the two.
The Blackfin family of processors from Analog Devices, Inc. integrates a
32-bit RISC instruction set, an 8-bit video instruction set with dual 16-bit
MAC units. The processor's variable length instruction set extends up to
64-bit opcodes used in DSP inner loops (one SIMD and two
load/store/cycle), but is optimized so that 16-bit opcodes represent the
most frequently used instructions. As a result, compiled code density fig-
ures are competitive with industry-leading MCUs, yet its interlocked
pipeline and algebraic instruction syntax facilitate development in both
C/C++ and assembly.
1-2 Getting Started With Blackfin Processors