IDT intros serial RapidIO Gen2 development program

SAN JOSE, USA: IDT (Integrated Device Technology Inc.) announced its Serial RapidIO Gen2 program consisting of a comprehensive portfolio of IP, switches, evaluation platforms and tools. At the same time, IDT announced its Serial RapidIO Gen2 endpoint Intellectual Property (IP) has been selected by Texas Instruments (TI) for use in its wireless optimized digital signal processors (DSPs).

The combination of the IDT Serial RapidIO Gen2 products with the TI next-generation DSPs provide a turnkey solution for industry-leading performance and interoperability in 3G and 4G wireless platforms.

The combined IDT/TI solution produces significantly higher speeds and control of the switch fabric traffic in networks with large clusters of DSPs, which is critical to achieve the next node of performance in 3G and 4G wireless applications.

The IDT Serial RapidIO Gen2 solutions, which are backwards compatible with RapidIO 1.3, will allow system designers to improve overall system level performance in wireless, video/imaging and military applications. This is achieved by the higher lane speeds of the Serial RapidIO Gen2 specification, which runs at double the speed of the current 1.3 version solutions — all in the same small package form factors.

“We are pleased to have the IDT Gen2 RapidIO endpoint IP in our next-generation DSPs,” said Kathy Brown, general manager of TI’s wireless infrastructure business. “The RapidIO Gen2 specification, coupled with IDT’s RapidIO Gen2 switches and TI’s wireless infrastructure optimized DSPs, will truly enable base station OEMs to meet the network challenges of data-intensive 3G and 4G networks.”

“IDT continues to demonstrate its leadership in Serial RapidIO. With our RapidIO Gen2 program and delivery of IP to TI, IDT is enabling pervasive wireless broadband 4G coverage around the world. The IP, combined with our upcoming Gen2 switches, will deliver an enhanced broadband experience for the end user,” said Fred Zust, vice president and general manager of the Communications division at IDT.

“Our combination of IP and switches will ensure interoperability and will provide seamless end-to-end functionality in next-generation 3G and 4G wireless broadband systems.”

The IDT Serial RapidIO Gen2 program builds on its industry-leading portfolio of version 1.3 products and tools, which are in volume production shipments in WiMAX, HSPA, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, video and military applications today. The IDT solutions leverage best-in-class technology from its CPS and TSI product lines, with the latter being acquired from Tundra Semiconductor Corporation in early 2009.

“RapidIO Gen2 addresses designers’ increased bandwidth requirements by doubling the speed of RapidIO Rev 1.3, increasing link speeds to 6.25 Gbaud and by offering more port choices, increasing flexibility and system level features. IDT’s commitment to deliver RapidIO Gen2 solutions to the market coupled with its support of providing endpoint IP to companies such as Texas Instruments further strengthens the RapidIO ecosystem,” said Tom Cox, Executive Director, RapidIO Trade Association.

The IDT Serial RapidIO Gen2 endpoint IP will be generally available for microprocessor, DSP, field programmable gate array (FPGA) and ASIC vendors in Q4 2009.