Tensilica's Product Overview

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Processors and DSPs That Help You Get Maximum Efficiency, Throughout the Chip

With today's complex SOC designs, you can find processors and DSPs in lots of places throughout the chip. Designers need to add programmability to their chips for added flexibility. But not all coresare the same. Tensilica has the widest range of 32-bit processor and DSP cores that you can get off the shelf or customize to match the exact task you need, anywhere on the chip.

If you need a controller or host CPU, we've got it. We have the largest family of architecturally compatible controller cores in the industry.

But where we really shine is in the dataplane - the "other" part of the chip where typically designers use RTL blocks to do the "heavy lifting."

The problem with those RTL blocks is that they take too long to design, take even longer to verify, and are not programmable so changes can be made post-silicon.

There are many advantages to using processors throughout the dataplane, and Tensilica makes it easy with a totally automated methodology that let's you go from a C/C++ algorithm to a fully optimized core in less than an hour - or you can get in there are really maximize the customizations yourself.

What's a Dataplane Processor?

Dataplane Processor Units (DPUs) combine the best of CPUs and DSPs with 10-to-100x performance. DPUs can do performance intensive DSP (audio, video, imaging, and baseband signal processing) and embedded RISC CPU processing functions (security, networking, and deeply embedded control).

Tensilica's DPUs offer a unique blend of CPU + DSP strengths and deliver programmability, low power, optimized performance, and small core size. DPUs are employed throughout the chip:

Find our more about dataplane processors in our Methodology section.

The automated design tools behind all of Tensilica's application specific processor cores enable rapid customization to meet specific dataplane performance targets.

Tensilica's processors power top tier semiconductor companies, innovative start-ups, and system OEMs for high-volume products including mobile phones, consumer electronics devices (including portable media players, digital TV, and broadband set top boxes), computers, and storage, networking and communications equipment.

Everything Based on Xtensa Foundation

Our products include customizable processors, DSPs, and standard controllers. All of these are based on the Xtensa architecture.

Xtensa Foundation

Our Product Line Includes:

We give you the option to use our processor cores for functions that used to be hard coded in RTL, but now need the programmability of a processor-based solution. You can even use our direct port (GPIO) and queue (FIFO) interfaces that bypass the system bus for RTL-like data transfer speeds.

Base Architecture and Cool Technology

In this section, you'll read about the architecture behind all of these products - Tensilica's efficient, low-power Xtensa architecture. You also can read about the complete software tool chain, third party ecosystem, EDA flows, and models available with every Tensilica processor.

Configurable and Extensible to Match Your Application

You can configure Tensilica's Xtensa processors to match your application. And you can take it one step further by extending the processor, using our Verilog-like TIE language, to add custom instructions that can give you orders of magnitude performance increases.

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