Evolution of Digital Signal Processors

Introduction

Digital Signal Processing deals with algorithms for handling large chunk of data. This branch identified itself as a separate subject in 70s when engineers thought about processing the signals arising from nature in the discrete form. Development of Sampling Theory followed and the design of Analog-to-Digital converters gave an impetus in this direction. The contemporary applications of digital signal processing was mainly in speech followed by Communication, Seismology, Biomedical etc. Later on the field of Image processing emerged as another important area in signal processing.

The following broadly defines different processor classes

• General Purpose - high performance

- Pentiums, Alpha's, SPARC
- Used for general purpose software
- Heavy weight OS - UNIX, NT
- Workstations, PC's

• Embedded processors and processor cores

- ARM, 486SX, Hitachi SH7000, NEC V800
- Single program
- Lightweight, real-time OS
- DSP support
- Cellular phones, consumer electronics (e. g. CD players)

• Microcontrollers

- Extremely cost sensitive
- Small word size - 8 bit common
- Highest volume processors by far
- Automobiles, toasters, thermostats, ...

A Digital Signal Processor is required to do the following Digital Signal Processing tasks in real time.

• Signal Modeling

- Difference Equation
- Convolution
- Transfer Function
- Frequency Response

• Signal Processing

- Data Manipulation
- Algorithms
- Filtering
- Estimation


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