| In-car navigation processor gains 3D engine |
May 23, 2007
Renesas is readying a high-end SoC (system-on-chip) for in-car navigation systems requiring accelerated 3D graphics. The SH7775 is based on a 600MHz SH-4a core, and integrates a GPS baseband from SiRF along with a 150MHz PowerVR MBX 3D graphics processor from Imagination Technologies, Renesas said.
Renesas describes the SH7775 as a "third-generation" car navigation SoC, after the earlier SH7774 and SH7770 parts. Compared to the SH7770, the SH7775 will offer 50 percent better floating point performance, and three times faster graphics, Renesas said.
As with the earlier SH777x parts, the new SH7775 is based on Renesas's SH-4A core, a 32-bit superscalar RISC core with integrated media processing instructions and a four-way, set-associative memory cache with 32KB each of instruction and data cache. Clocked at 600MHz in the SH7775, the core is said to deliver 1GIPS (giga instructions per second) and 4.2 GFLOPS (giga floating-point operations per second), making it the fastest chip ever based on the SuperH architecture.
The SH7775 uses the same 2D graphics engine as Renesas's earlier in-car nav chips, facilitating software forward compatibility, the company said. New in the SH7775 part, however, are 3D functions like triangle 3D drawing and texture mapping, useful for rendering buildings on maps, Renesas said. The SH7775's 3D capabilities are based on an PowerVR MBX 3D graphics engine from Imagination Technologies. Renesas will offer a "MAPGL" graphics API for the chip; and, Imagination also offers a PowerVR Insider SDK for content creators targeting its GPUs.
Other SH7775 on-chip peripherals and interfaces include:- GPS baseband processing module utilizing IP licensed from SiRF
- ATAPI interface
- USB v2.0 host/function interface
- CAN in-vehicle LAN interface
- Remote control interface, timers, etc..
- Unified memory architecture allows memory sharing among peripherals
- 32-bit dedicated bus for connections to high-speed DDR2-SDRAM (Double-Data-Rate-2 Synchronous DRAM)
- 32-bit extension bus for connections to flash memory or SRAM
Renesas did not respond by publication time to questions about embedded operating system compatibility. However, software compatibility with the earlier SH777x series parts appears to be a touted feature, and a Linux 2.6.10 port for the SH7770 is available from SuperH-Linux.org.
Renesas said engineers can use its E10A-USB emulator for real-time on-chip debugging at the SH7775's full 600MHz operating frequency.
Availability
The SH7775 is expected to ship in July, priced at $70 in a 560-pin BGA package. An in-car navigation system reference platform said to include peripheral circuits for implementing a verification environment will also be offered.
Renesas also recently announced an SH-7785 SoC, also based on a 600MHz SH-4a core.
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of
Service and Privacy Policy.
Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008
Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is
prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
news feed