Overview
The TMS320C6746 is a fixed- and floating-point Digital Signal Processor (DSP) from Texas Instruments, designed for low-power applications. This DSP is part of the C674x family and is built on a C674x DSP core, offering significant power savings compared to other members of the TMS320C6000 platform. The device is tailored for original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original-design manufacturers (ODMs) to develop devices with robust operating systems, rich user interfaces, and high processor performance. It features a two-level cache architecture, including 32KB of L1 program and data caches, and 256KB of unified L2 cache. The C6746 also supports a wide range of peripherals and interfaces, making it versatile for various applications.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor Speed | 375 MHz and 456 MHz versions |
| Instruction Set | Superset of C67x+ and C64x+ ISAs |
| Performance | Up to 3648 MIPS and 2746 MFLOPS |
| Cache Memory | 32KB L1P Program RAM/Cache, 32KB L1D Data RAM/Cache, 256KB L2 Unified Mapped RAM/Cache |
| Memory Interfaces | EMIFA (asynchronous, SDRAM, NOR, NAND), DDR2/Mobile DDR Memory Controller |
| DMA Controller | Enhanced Direct Memory Access Controller 3 (EDMA3) with 64 independent channels and 16 QDMA channels |
| Floating-Point Support | Supports 32-bit integer, IEEE single precision (32-bit), and IEEE double precision (64-bit) floating point |
| Peripheral Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C, MMC/SD, USB 2.0 OTG, EMAC (10/100 Mbps), VPIF, uPP, McBSP, McASP |
| Package Options | NFBGA (361 pins), body size: 13.00 mm x 13.00 mm or 16.00 mm x 16.00 mm |
Key Features
- C674x DSP Core: Load-store architecture with nonaligned support, 64 general-purpose registers (32-bit), six ALU functional units.
- Cache Architecture: Two-level cache with 32KB L1P and L1D caches, and 256KB L2 unified cache.
- EDMA3 Controller: Enhanced Direct Memory Access Controller with 64 independent channels and 16 QDMA channels.
- Floating-Point Operations: Supports up to four single precision additions per clock, two double precision additions every two clocks, and reciprocal approximation operations.
- Fixed-Point Multiply: Supports two 32x32-bit multiplies, four 16x16-bit multiplies, or eight 8x8-bit multiplies per clock cycle.
- Peripheral Set: Includes UART, SPI, I2C, MMC/SD, USB 2.0 OTG, EMAC, VPIF, uPP, McBSP, McASP, and more.
- Programmable Real-Time Unit Subsystem (PRUSS): Two independent PRU cores with 32-bit load-store RISC architecture.
- Power Management: Standard power-management mechanisms including clock gating and a dedicated interrupt controller.
Applications
- Currency Inspection: Utilized in systems for detecting and verifying currency.
- Biometric Identification: Used in biometric systems for fingerprint, facial, or iris recognition.
- Machine Vision (Low-End): Applied in low-end machine vision applications for image processing and analysis.
- General Embedded Systems: Suitable for various embedded systems requiring high-performance DSP capabilities.
Q & A
- What is the processor speed of the TMS320C6746?
The TMS320C6746 is available in 375 MHz and 456 MHz versions.
- What type of cache architecture does the TMS320C6746 use?
The device uses a two-level cache architecture with 32KB L1P and L1D caches, and 256KB L2 unified cache.
- What is the EDMA3 controller and its capabilities?
The EDMA3 controller has 64 independent channels and 16 QDMA channels, providing efficient data transfer.
- Does the TMS320C6746 support floating-point operations?
Yes, it supports 32-bit integer, IEEE single precision (32-bit), and IEEE double precision (64-bit) floating point operations.
- What are the key peripheral interfaces available on the TMS320C6746?
The device includes UART, SPI, I2C, MMC/SD, USB 2.0 OTG, EMAC, VPIF, uPP, McBSP, and McASP interfaces.
- What is the PRUSS and its role in the TMS320C6746?
The PRUSS (Programmable Real-Time Unit Subsystem) includes two independent PRU cores with 32-bit load-store RISC architecture, used for real-time processing tasks.
- How does the TMS320C6746 manage power consumption?
The device uses standard power-management mechanisms including clock gating and a dedicated interrupt controller to manage power consumption.
- What are some common applications of the TMS320C6746?
Common applications include currency inspection, biometric identification, low-end machine vision, and general embedded systems requiring high-performance DSP capabilities.
- What development tools are available for the TMS320C6746?
Development tools include C compilers, a DSP assembly optimizer, and a Windows debugger interface for source code execution visibility.
- What is the package type and pin count of the TMS320C6746?
The device is available in NFBGA packages with 361 pins, and body sizes of 13.00 mm x 13.00 mm or 16.00 mm x 16.00 mm.
