DSP processor

[benji]

hey guys , i need to work on a DSP processor for a project to the university
,what processor should i study?
i dont have much info about dsp processors, so what is considered the basic dsp processor?
is it a microcontroller or just a microprocessor?

[jsmoker]

dsp chips just have a dsp engine which basically means that the chip is designed to perform higher math functions like multiplication, division, integration and differentiation.  This allows for fast filtering on incoming signals as well as other operations. For a quick, cheap, and dirty dsp, you could try the dsPIC30F3012 the programming software C30 is free as a student addition and is full featured for a month.  It also comes with examples as well.  I also work for a university and have found this chip (or rather this family of chips) used fairly often.

Here's a starting point for information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor

What are you actually trying to do?

[benji]

well thanks for being interested ,ill do check the processor you mentioned and i did read the wiki page time ago
i would want to work with a processor that is common (like 8051 for ucontrollers)
i found some processors like the texas instruments ones and motorolas to be what i think common. true?
you think someone can have an assembler or a simulator for these dsps?
is it the one you mentioned a known one?
and about what i want to do is just a little application
firstival i should learn the processor (interupts,registers,adc ..etc)
second i have to make a little application
im thinking of interfacing a camera and have a little algorithm to filter the image and then output the video to a tv
or maybe how about interfacing a microphone and filtering the voice of someone then have it on a speaker?
help me if you can suggest some simple application, i wanna keep it simple.
what project did you do for the university using this dsp processor?

[hgordon]

The border between DSP and microcontroller has blurred considerably in recent years.  Many microcontrollers now have DSP functions (single cycle multiply accumulate), and some DSP's now have RISC instructions sets and microcontroller-style architectures.  Also, it's common to program DSP and microcontroller functions into gate arrays such as Xilinx.  Frankly, if I was starting today to learn about DSP's, I'd seriously look at becoming familiar with FPGA's, since that gives you a lot of flexibility with processing and interfaces.  Maybe look first at the Xilinx Spartan 3e FPGA as a useful point of reference.

[benji]

well i dont wanna get away out of the assembly or C programing languages
are these the languages used to program the FPGA?
our university project forces it to stick with a processor, im not sure if another chip is ok so i wanna stick with a dsp processor,,
can u name me a dsp processor that has a microcontroller architechtures?
cuz i dont wanna get busy interfacing a memory and ins/outs

also,any 8051 core micros have dsp functions?

[hgordon]

There are standard logic blocks for FPGA's that will give you C and ASM programmability, but maybe this is more complexity than you want to deal with.  A good processor choice would be an ARM7 such as NXP LPC2103 - it runs at 70MHz and has a single cycle multiply-accumulate ALU plus lots of built-in memory and i/o, so it is very simple to integrate, and lots of software tools are available.  I think the chip costs $4-$5 in single piece quantities, and there are cheaper versions available with less memory.

[benji]

thank you for the information,, i would check on the processor u mentioned

[benji]

i did read the datasheet.. lookslike a very capable processor comaped to its price
is there an simulator/emulator  or assembler for this micro over some website?
thanks again

[hgordon]

You will find many links to development tools on these pages -

http://www.keil.com/dd/chip/3974.htm
http://www.iar.com/index.php?show=85779_ENG
http://www.olimex.com/dev/lpc-p2103.html
http://www.lpctools.com/browseproducts/Embedded-Artists-LPC2103-USB-QuickStart-Board.html
http://www.coridiumcorp.com/ARMmite.php?gclid=CP7fz8DChY8CFRm9hgodqjpguQ