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• » Introduction
• » Block Diagram
• » Trend
• » Challenges
• » Solution
• » Use Cases
• » Customer Success Story
• » Documentation

Related information

• » What are CSSP Solutions?
• » Solution Platforms

Articles

• » Configurable logic offers connectivity alternative for smart phones
  QuickLogic’s ArcticLink: Pairing hard-wired interfaces with a programmable fabric, device promises just the right amount of flexibility for phone designers. By Ron Wilson, Executive Editor -- EDN, 3/19/2007
• » Handheld electronics: Host controller is programmable
  QuickLogic product aims to lower system costs for handset designers. By Mark LaPedus -- EE Times, 3/19/2007
• » USB 2.0 high-speed host controllers provide multiple connectivity options
  By Emily Gleason -- eeProductCenter, 3/19/2007

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Introduction

The market for Personal Media Players (PMPs) is divided into Flash based players and Hard Disk Drive (HDD) based players. The last few years have seen an explosive growth of PMPs driven by the growth in flash based players due to the dramatic reduction in flash memory prices. The PMP market has evolved from very basic MP3 playback functionality to adopting the latest features of the consumer electronics market, including multimedia and wireless functionality. PMP designers need to create new and differentiated products by adding the features that consumers demand while simultaneously addressing the market needs of rapid development time, and lowest Bill of Materials (BOM) cost.

The PMP markets adoption of multimedia-rich content - particularly, video and Mobile TV - as well as different wireless technologies has led to unique challenges in storage, feature integration and technology convergence. At an architectural level, this trend results in more and more peripherals to be connected to the application processors that run the operating system (OS) and application software. Unfortunately, application processors have a predefined set of interfaces and typically cannot be modified as fast as the market requirements change.

To solve this dilemma, QuickLogic has developed a broad variety of host controllers around the most common storage, networking, video and other high speed peripheral interface technologies used in PMPs. These include USB 2.0 OTG with PHY, SD/SDIO/MMC, IDE, CE-ATA, NAND/Managed NAND, High Speed UARTs, MPEG-TS and PCI.

Block Diagram

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PMP Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP

Trend

• New high capacity storage technologies for increased, cost-effective storage – Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) cards, Managed NAND and CE-ATA Hard Disk Drives
• Hi-Speed USB and Bluetooth will be found in nearly every media player
• Broadband data access with HSDPA/HSUPA, Wi-Fi and WiMAX
• Mobile TV is gaining momentum with varying local standards – DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T and MediaFLO
• PVR capabilities will be required in the high-end media players. Copyright protection functionality will be needed

Challenges

• Increased storage needs due to high digital content, particularly video and Mobile TV
• Demand for multiple high speed wireless interfaces for high speed download of digital content , email and web browsing, and better user experience with services provided by companies such as exchange of songs and video
• Content protection of copyrighted materials to play movies from SD and SDHC cards
• Poor image quality and requirement for increasing backlight reduce battery life

Solution

• QuickLogic supports a broad spectrum of storage choices including CE-ATA, IDE, SD/SDHC/MMC cards and Managed NAND with booting capability
• QuickLogic provides both Hi-Speed USB 2.0, SDIO 2.0 and MPEG-TS for high speed data interface for wired and wireless connectivity
• QuickLogic’s USB solutions support On-The-Go and can be used as a device or a host depending how it is connected
• Image enhancement to improve picture quality and save battery life by lowering backlight requirements when watching video and Mobile TV

Use Cases

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PMP with CE-ATA HDD, Bluetooth 2.0, and Wi-Fi

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PMP with SD/MMC Card, Bluetooth 2.0, and Mobile TV

Customer Success Story

Improved PMP Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP

Overview

The two figures above outline the original and modified architecture for a PMP using a special DSP-based Application Processor with less IO connectivity, a high-speed USB 2.0 OTG port and the need for two SD/SDIO ports to connect to a SDHC card and SDIO-based Wi-Fi.

Challenge

Some PMPs need dedicated DSP processors to support high end graphics and video for multimedia rich applications and TV. These DSP processors lack the connectivity needed to add new features to separate OEMs from the competition and avoid commoditization. To support these peripherals, designers need to add ASSPs which consume valuable board space and add to the BOM cost – not trivial issues in a market where price pressure and product miniaturization are key.

QuickLogic Solution

QuickLogic’s CSSP approach enabled this OEM to keep their DSP-based application processor and avoid changing the application processor to one with more peripheral support and less video and graphics support. Furthermore, the integration of QuickLogic CSSP reduced three devices down to a single device, saving precious PCB space and BOM cost.

Results

As a result of using the QuickLogic CSSP, the PMP manufacturer provided a better user experience by adding new features without changing the application processor and without adding significant BOM cost and board space.