Digital signal processor: Difference between revisions

From AtariForumWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
>Tompee
(external links)
>Wongck
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
A '''Digital Signal Processor''' (DSP) is a chip designed to process digital signals (such as video or voice data) in realtime. DSP's use highly parallel SIMD ('''S'''ingle '''i'''nstruction '''m'''ultiple '''d'''ata) instruction sets, and use [[fixed-point]] arithmatic (as opposed to [[floating point]]). As such, they are suited to certain, specialised applications.
'''Digital signal processors''' (DSP) are [[integrated circuits]] designed to process [[digital signal|digital signals]], such as video and voice data, in realtime. They use highly parallel SIMD ('''s'''ingle '''i'''nstruction '''m'''ultiple '''d'''ata) instruction sets, and use [[fixed-point]] arithmetics as opposed to [[floating point]] arithmetics. As such, they are mostly suited for specialised applications.


==Atari Falcon 030==
==Atari Falcon==
The [[Falcon 030]] was only computer manufactured by [[Atari]] to be equipped with a DSP, the [[Motorola]] [[56001]], which made it a highly capable machine for the recording music (with the ability to add effects and filters in real-time). Innovative programming techniques also put the 56001 to work as a general coprocessor, performing certain tasks in parallel to the CPU to achieve tasks the [[68030]] CPU may ordinarily not have been able to do on its own. Examples of such tasks include the realtime playback of MP3's (a feat not achievable by contemporary machines of similar processing power to the Falcon, such as the [[Amiga]] 1200 and [[Apple]] Mac LC\30), fast decompression of JPEG images, and the production of realtime visual effects in demos and graphics software.
 
The [[Atari Falcon]] was the only [[Atari]] computer that was equipped with a digital signal processor, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola Motorola] [[CPU#MC56001| 56001]]. This made it a highly capable machine especially for the recording of music considering the ability to add realtime effects and filters. Innovative programming techniques also put the 56001 to work as a general coprocessor, performing certain tasks in parallel to the CPU to achieve tasks the [[CPU|68030]] CPU may ordinarily not have been able to do on its own.  
 
Examples of such tasks include:
 
* Realtime playback of MP3s, which was not achievable by contemporary computers of similar processing power to the Falcon like the [[Company#Commodore|Amiga]] 1200 and [[Company#Apple_Inc.|Apple]] Mac LC\30  
* Fast decompression of JPEG images
* Production of realtime visual effects in demos and graphics software
 
==Atari Jaguar==
 
The [[Atari Jaguar|Jaguar]] contained a 32-bit digital signal processor embedded in the [[Jerry]] processor


==External Links==
==External Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor Wikipedia article on DSP's]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor Wikipedia article on DSP's]
* [http://www.freescale.com Freescale Semiconductor] (Motorola)
* [http://www.freescale.com Freescale Semiconductor] (Motorola)
* [http://www.dsprelated.com/ DSP Discussion group]
* [http://www.dsprelated.com/ DSP Discussion group]
[[Category:Hardware Components]]
[[Category:Coprocessors]]

Latest revision as of 12:05, 28 January 2012

Digital signal processors (DSP) are integrated circuits designed to process digital signals, such as video and voice data, in realtime. They use highly parallel SIMD (single instruction multiple data) instruction sets, and use fixed-point arithmetics as opposed to floating point arithmetics. As such, they are mostly suited for specialised applications.

Atari Falcon

The Atari Falcon was the only Atari computer that was equipped with a digital signal processor, the Motorola 56001. This made it a highly capable machine especially for the recording of music considering the ability to add realtime effects and filters. Innovative programming techniques also put the 56001 to work as a general coprocessor, performing certain tasks in parallel to the CPU to achieve tasks the 68030 CPU may ordinarily not have been able to do on its own.

Examples of such tasks include:

  • Realtime playback of MP3s, which was not achievable by contemporary computers of similar processing power to the Falcon like the Amiga 1200 and Apple Mac LC\30
  • Fast decompression of JPEG images
  • Production of realtime visual effects in demos and graphics software

Atari Jaguar

The Jaguar contained a 32-bit digital signal processor embedded in the Jerry processor

External Links