Cirrus rolls out FastPath platform

Electronic News, June 24, 1996 by Crista Hardie

Fremont, Calif.--Cirrus Logic is rolling out its FastPath telephony platform--a suite of DSP-based chipsets for systems using current and future standards for data and voice communications, fax and video conferencing.

The basic platform, a three-chip V.34 voice and data fax modem, was previewed at the Computer Telephony '96 Conference in Los Angeles recently (EN, March 11). Cirrus officially takes the wraps off four of the chipsets this month, with two more to follow in the second half of the year.

Using a cache-based 32-bit RISC controller, a high-bandwidth DSP and one to two analog front-ends, the FastPath platform is said to adapt to a number of specific functions using firmware downloaded through flash memory. All the solutions can be implemented with three or four chips designed to support the 33.6 kilobits-per-second (kbps) data speed standard, which is expected to be finalized this fall.

The initial releases include the CL-MD3450 and CL-MD3452 for desktop applications and the PCMCIA-compatible CL-MD3451 and CL-MD3453 for mobile applications. The chipsets support simultaneous data, fax and voice functions, including full-duplex speakerphone, telephone answering machine capabilities and Radish's Voice-View protocol. The controller and DSP are both packaged in 128-pin SQFPs or VQFPs. The sigma-delta analog front ends are each packaged in 44-pin VQFPs. Sample quantities are available, priced in 1,000-piece quantities at $66 each for the CL-MD3450 and CL-MD3451 chipsets and $70 each for the CL-MD3452 and CL-MD3453 chipsets. Volume production is planned for 3Q96, Cirrus said.

Later this year, the company plans to add functions to appeal to PC and Internet appliance users. The MD3462 will add V.70 Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (DSVD) and V.80 (H.324) functions for video conferencing. In addition, a chipset presently referred to as MD34XX will add ISDN capability to the four-chip platform. Specific timing and pricing were not revealed, however.

According to Ed Prentice, product marketing manager for Cirrus Logic's PC telephony products, customers are more frequently demanding intelligence in communications devices. "DSVD and speakerphone at the same time is very hard to do," he said. "This platform will enable this."

Meanwhile, PC-Tel separately unveiled a single-chip data/fax/voice modem for Pentium-based desktop and notebook PCs. The PCT2881 uses what PC-Tel calls host signal processing (HSP)--a software driven technology, enabling 33.6Kps data speeds. The chip is available for $35 in 10,000-unit quantities.

HSP relies on the processor itself, rather than adding DSP subsystems, additional components and memory, the company said. The chip is said to use less than 60MHz from the host, leaving enough "horsepower" for the CPU to do multimedia and multitasking functions at the same time.