CommAgility Ships High-performance DSP/FPGA AdvancedMC Module for Leading Edge Wireless Baseband, Image and Signal Processing Applications

New Board Delivers Performance and Flexibility in Compact Package
9th October 2007

CommAgility has announced the first shipments of its AdvancedMC™ module AMC-D4F1, targeted at high-performance processing roles in wireless baseband and other applications. Based on Texas Instruments Incorporated's (TI) high-performance digital signal processors and an FPGA coprocessor, the module provides more processing capabilities and I/O bandwidth than other AdvancedMC products on the market today.

Designed around four TMS320C6455 DSPs from TI running at 1 GHz and a Virtex-4 FX100 series FPGA from Xilinx, the AMC-D4F1 module addresses the needs of developers in many aspects of high end signal processing, from wireless baseband through to image processing and defense and aerospace applications.

It is based on the AdvancedMC embedded standard, making it particularly appropriate for MicroTCA™ but also usable in AdvancedTCA® systems. AdvancedMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) is a new standard from the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group for hot-swappable, field-replaceable cards in a small and cost-effective chassis.

CommAgility chose Texas Instruments' DSPs because of TI's market leadership in the DSP market; CommAgility’s founders’ successful past experience working with TI; and TI’s strong roadmap based on its C64x+™ DSP core, which CommAgility intends to fully leverage in future products.

“Based on TI's high-performance DSPs, CommAgility's AdvancedMC Module delivers a simple, integrated solution to complex, processing-intensive applications," said Andy Richardson, European business development manager, TI. "CommAgility was able to go from concept to first deliveries in under six months, demonstrating their technical expertise as well as TI's flexible hardware and robust tool set."

Edward Young, Managing Director, CommAgility, said, “The AMC-D4F1, our first major product development, showcases what CommAgility can achieve in packing high end processing and I/O bandwidth into the limited space of an AdvancedMC module. Our future roadmap will include both TI's latest high-performance DSP devices and FPGA products.”

A full on-board infrastructure provides both 10 Gbps 4x Serial RapidIO® and Gigabit Ethernet, including multiple links to the AMC connector for redundant connections to MicroTCA MCH or other switch hubs, and a front panel Serial RapidIO link. In addition, a 10 Gbps front panel link to the FPGA provides further programmable interface capabilities. For improved data transfer capability, each DSP also has a 125 MHz synchronous EMIF connection to the FPGA – 64 bits from DSP0 and 32 bits from DSP1-3, giving a total of 20 Gbps bandwidth. Over 1GB of memory provides extensive on-card storage.

The AMC-D4F1 can be supplied as a COTS product or, for OEM use, CommAgility can customise, and will consider licensing, the design. This allows a customer to start development quickly on the standard product, while optimising the solution for volume production.

The AMC-D4F1 module is sampling to lead customers now. Pricing is provided on an individual basis for each customer.

About CommAgility:
CommAgility, based in Loughborough, UK, provides standards-based embedded products for high end signal processing applications, focusing on the latest standards such as AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA. The founders are all veterans from Loughborough Sound Images/Blue Wave Systems/Motorola with vast experience in this field.

Website: www.commagility.com
Contact:
Tel: +44 1509 228866

About the Texas Instruments DSP Third Party Network
CommAgility is a member of the TI DSP Third Party Network, a worldwide organization of independent companies that offer products and services supporting TI DSPs. TI third parties provide expertise across a variety of applications, including audio, control, telecommunications, video and imaging and wireless communications. Third party products and services include a broad range of application software, development hardware and software, and consulting services that support original equipment manufacturers’ efforts to bring differentiated products to the market quickly. For more information about the TI DSP Third Party Network, please visit http://www.ti.com/3p.

Press contact:
Nick Daines
Email: nick@nickdaines.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 8412109
Mobile: +44 (0)7958 534731

AdvancedTCA is a registered trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. AdvancedMC and MicroTCA are trademarks of PICMG. RapidIO is a registered trademark of the RapidIO Trade Association. Other product mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.