Freescale Introduces QUICC Engine Technology for the Connected Digital Home

lorant

Freescale Introduces QUICC Engine Technology for the Connected Digital Home [Copy link]

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced the first PowerQUICC? processor family 　with QUICC Engine? technology designed specifically for the consumer and SOHO networking device markets . The MPC8323E PowerQUICC II Pro processor includes a PowerPC? core that provides superior packet processing, VoIP and encryption performance. These advanced processing capabilities will help consumers and small businesses take full advantage of the next generation of high-speed broadband and wireless services.

　　The MPC8323E processor family provides excellent performance and flexible connectivity options for residential and SOHO gateways, wireless access points, virtual private networks (VPNs), firewall routers, and a variety of IP service devices, such as VoIP and IPTV set-top boxes. The MPC8323E's on-chip PCI interface supports printer USB 2.0 hubs, network attached storage and media server applications, as well as wireless connections using WLAN 802.11x and WiMAX technologies. The MPC8323E processor can also be used in other applications outside the digital home , such as DSLAM line cards, industrial control, and test and measurement equipment.

　　Insight into MPC8323E QUICC Engine Technology　　

　　The MPC8323E family uses a simplified version of the QUICC Engine technology, which includes a 32-bit RISC engine optimized for residential and SOHO networking applications. The single-core RISC engine works in conjunction with five universal communication controllers (UCCs). Each UCC can be configured to handle a variety of communication protocols, including 10/10 Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) up to OC-3 speed, serial Multi-PHY ATM, time division multiplexing (TDM), high-level data link control (HDLC), two-way universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter (DUART), binary synchronous communication protocol (BISYNC).

　　Digital home systems using QUICC Engine technology enable service providers to add new features, such as security upgrades and improved quality of service, through remotely managed upgrades. Through Freescale's open QUICC Engine developer program, third parties and customers can develop microcode customized for specific applications.

　　Enhanced PowerPC core　　

　　The MPC8323E processor is based on the proven PowerQUICC system-on-chip (SoC) architecture, which manages control plane and data plane processing tasks through the PowerPC core and QUICC Engine technology respectively. The MPC8323E series uses the enhanced e300c2 PowerPC core, which can run at 333MHz and includes two integer units.

　　The enhanced e300c2 core provides three times the performance of the original e300 core. This high processing efficiency is achieved through dual multipliers, which support twice the number of channels of low bit rate voice codecs, thereby consuming fewer CPU cycles. With these excellent features, the MPC8323E series makes it easier to develop VoIP gateways without the overhead of a separate DSP.

　　The PowerPC core has 16KB of LI instruction and data cache. It is supported by a system interface unit that contains a 32-bit DDR1/2 memory controller, a 32-bit PCI controller, and a 16-bit local bus.

　　The MPC8323E family features control plane/data plane cores supporting a wide range of protocols, providing a versatile platform for designing networking products with modular WAN front-ends (supporting ADSL, VDSL, WiMAX and PON) and modular LAN connectivity (supporting Ethernet switching and IEEE? 802.11x).

　　Broad ecosystem support　

　　Freescale offers CodeWarrior? development tools, and third-party vendors collaborate through the Freescale Design Alliance program to provide a comprehensive ecosystem of tools, operating systems, middleware, and applications that support the MPC8323E family. Members of Freescale's open QUICC Engine developer program can also assist in developing custom microcode solutions for unique applications.

　　Freescale and its EMS partners plan to release cost-effective development systems and reference platforms for specific residential/SOHO networking applications in summer 2006. These implementation solutions will help equipment manufacturers reduce development costs and speed time to market.

　　Pricing and Availability　　

　　The MPC8323E family of processors is manufactured using Freescale's 90nm process technology and is available in a 16-pin PBGA package. The initial members of the MPC8323E family include the MPC8323E, MPC8323, MPC8321E and MPC8321. The PowerQUICC device names end with the letter E to represent on-chip cryptographic acceleration. The MPC8323/E devices support Ethernet and ATM protocols (via the UTOPIA interface), and the MPC83231/E devices are optimized for IP/Ethernet packet processing. The MPC8323E family is designed to provide a next-generation migration path for system designs based on current PowerQUICC I processors and select PowerQUICC II processors. 　　

　　Samples of the MPC8323E family of devices are scheduled to be available in early third quarter 2006. 2007 suggested resale prices for the 266MHz MPC8321 processor start at $12.95 in 50,000-unit quantities through distributors.