Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!mips!wrdis01!emory!tridom!atssc!fang!tarpit!osceola.cs.ucf.edu!jjohnson From: jjohnson@cs.ucf.edu (John Jjohnson) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: microprocessor wanted Message-ID: Date: 25 Apr 91 04:46:29 GMT References: <119279@unix.cis.pitt.edu> Sender: news@osceola.cs.ucf.edu (News sysetm) Organization: University of Central Florida Lines: 39 fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Filip Gieszczykiewicz) writes: <..stuff deleted..> > I need a microprocessor with the following specifications: > o 8-bit (16-bit would be nice) > o ~10MHz clock > o ability to address 64K of RAM (more would be nice) > o BUILT-IN floating processor (that's the problem) > o CHEAP (under $40) > I want 16 of these "chip"s to fit on one board (that's why > I worry about space) Check into some of the DSP chips that have been around. I believe one of the DSPs from NEC (7720 or 77230) used a 24-bit (non-standard) floating point format and was real inexpensive. Plenty of dynamic range for most control jobs. AT&T has two 32-bit floating point chips: the DSP32 (NMOS) and the much faster DSP32C (CMOS). I think you can get the NMOS part real cheap. I *think* Texas Instruments has been working on a cheap floating point DSP. The number TMS320C31 rings a bell as being a TMS320C30 with fewer ports and buses, or something like that. Of course, Motorola's DSP96001 & 96002 will be real expensive for a while, so don't hold your breath for them. Analog Devices may have released their ADSP-21000 signal processor by now, but I haven't heard. (Has anyone?) They may have a low cost version of it. I think OKI Semiconductor (Japan) was selling development kits for PC's that included a board using a DSP with a 22-bit floating point format. (I may have this mixed up with the NEC parts.) If you only have an integer processor, U.S. Software (Seattle?) sells re-entrant floating point libraries for several families. I've heard their code is good and there are no royalty fees. Good Luck. Mark Johnson (jjohnson@eola.cs.ucf.edu)