NORWOOD, MA, Aug. 15, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Analog Devices, Inc., a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, today announced that ArWest Communications has chosen Blackfin as its core processing platform, citing Blackfin's ability to handle both microcontroller (MCU) and signal processing tasks, while doing so with the lowest power consumption in its class, less than 300 mW. A global leader in the design, manufacturing, and implementation of radio data modems -- providing wireless data communications using software-defined radio (SDR) -- ArWest solutions are today in use to track inventory, monitor environmental conditions, improve public safety, reduce traffic flow, and more.
The ArWest product line, AlphaWave, is designed to meet the varied needs of System Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) users found in such diverse markets as public safety, utilities, oil & gas, asset management, water, environmental monitoring, agriculture, transportation and military.
"We wanted a processor that could handle both MCU and signal processing tasks simultaneously," said Gagik Harutyunyan, Chief Technology Officer at ArWest, "and Blackfin was ideal."
Blackfin was ideal because it combines breakthrough signal-processing performance and power efficiency in a RISC programming model. The processors allow flexible resource allocation between complex real-time signal processing tasks and non-real-time control tasks, with system control tasks often running in parallel to signal-processing tasks.
"Additionally, since our wireless communications systems are deployed in the field for rugged conditions, low power consumption and high reliability are an absolute must," said Barrie Hogarth, Vice President of Marketing at ArWest. "To meet our stringent design requirements, we wanted a processor with 240 MHz and power consumption less than 300 mW. With performance of 240 MHz, the Blackfin met our performance needs, and with the processor powered at 3.3 V, power dissipation was ideal for the solution."
Added John Croteau, General Manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc.: "Analog Devices has a rich tradition building solutions for the wireless marketplace, from cellular handsets to basestations to portable devices requiring low power dissipation. Our Blackfin processors represent the new direction in embedded processing, convergence, moving toward low-power, high performance, fully programmable processors that can readily handle multiple processing tasks while remaining cost-effective."
Analog Devices' Blackfin® Processors embody a new breed of 16/32-bit embedded processor with the industry's highest performance and power efficiency for applications where a convergence of capabilities - multiformat audio, video, voice and image processing; multi-mode baseband and packet processing; and real-time security and control processing -- are critical. It is this powerful combination of software flexibility and scalability that has gained Blackfin widespread adoption in convergent applications such as portable and networked media players; automotive telematics, infotainment and driver assistance; satellite and terrestrial radio; and networked security systems.
ArWest Communications Corp. (www.arwestcom.com), of Campbell, Calif., is a privately held telecommunications company founded in 2003 by CEO Thomas Chanian and CTO Gagik Harutyunyan. It recently announced the launch of its AlphaWave (AW) range of narrow-band radio modems and associated management software AWare™. These high-performance radio modems are designed for the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) market where robustness and reliability are paramount. The AW400™ has been approved by the relevant statutory bodies -- FCC, CE and CCC -- for operation within their geographic regions.
Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest standing, highest growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, It serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, the company is based in Norwood, Mass., with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.
###
