Xcore open source libraries for streaming sound and video over Ethernet
The AVB software implementation has been optimized for high performance audio devices based on XMOS‘ embedded processors. AVB protocols, digital audio interfaces and control software have all been integrated into a single low cost device and the XMOS open software has been extensively tested for device interoperability in customer products and at AVnu Alliance plugfests.
The move has brought strong industry support:
“XMOS’ decision to place their AVB protocol software into the open source realm will only make that solution more viable,” said Mike Sims, director of marketing and sales for Attero Tech. “One of the great promises of AVB was that, as an IEEE standard, AVB was non-proprietary and available to everyone without licensing costs. This move by XMOS finally makes that promise a reality, and should be a tremendous help moving AVB acceptance forward,”
“The availability of the XMOS open source version of the AVB software is a key sign that the media interconnect standard is maturing and rapidly establishing itself as a force in the market. Industry collaboration on the open standard will enable companies to focus resources on developing highly differentiated products,” said Robert Boatright, director of research at Harman International.
The XCore Open Source project contains a wide range of XMOS and developer contributed software-based peripherals, applications, hardware reference designs and tools. The entire AVB application is made available under a license derived from the University of Illinois/NCSA Open Source License and enables developers to decide which hardware and software enhancements to contribute back to the XCore Open Source project. All proprietary developer code is fully protected.
The XCore Open Source Project has been set up, as a community, to create a comprehensive set of software, hardware designs and tools that enable great ideas and businesses to thrive on XMOS event-driven technology. The program is officially sponsored by XMOS as a true open-source project and contributions to the library have been made by XMOS, customers, universities and volunteers.
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XMOS launches its first voice processors
XMOS in Bristol has launched a family of voice processors to provide far-field voice capture using arrays of MEMS microphones. The move marks a shift away from general purpose microcontrollers and AVB Ethernet controllers and into the market for voice controlled equipment such as Amazon’s Echo and Apple’s home speaker.
The XVF3000 has optional support for Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree technology, the industry’s leading voice-trigger solution and the Xcore architecture provides a flexible and cost effective always-on voice interface in a single device.
XMOS also announces the availability of a development kit (the XK VF3100 C43), which includes an XVF3000 processor card and a 4-mic circular microphone array. This kit provides a quick way to start developing far-field voice capture applications.
“Today is a very significant day for XMOS. We’re introducing XVF3000 and VocalFusion Speaker [development kit] as the first in a range of voice capture products. Based on our powerful and flexible xCORE microcontroller architecture, XVF voice processors open up new possibilities for designers looking to deliver high performance voice capture in a very cost-effective form factor,” said Mark Lippett, CEO at XMOS. “We’re excited to be at the forefront of the revolution driven by products like Amazon Echo and Google Home, which have shown the possibilities for voice interfaces. We are working worldwide with customers and partners to accelerate the adoption of voice as the interface of choice for the Internet of Things.”
The XVF3000 devices include speech enhancement algorithms that include an adaptive beamformer, which uses signals from four microphones to track a talker as they move, coupled with high performance full-duplex, acoustic echo cancellation. The controllers can be easily integrated with an applications processor or host PC via either USB for data and control or a combination of I2S and I2C. Developers can quickly add custom voice and audio processing using the XMOS free development tools.
XVF3000 devices are available immediately from XMOS, and the VocalFusion Speaker Development Kit will be available in July. Developers can register for early access to the Beta program and download further information at: www.xmos.com/xcorevocalfusion.
Related stories:
- XMOS adds industrial networking to its multicore chips
- XMOS taps ARM for advisory board
- Bristol firm drives down cost of complex silicon chips
XMOS adds industrial networking to its multicore chips
XMOS has added Modbus and CANopen xSOFTip blocks to the embedded industrial communications capabilities supported by its xCORE family of multicore microcontrollers.
CANopen and Modbus are well established as the leading industrial communications protocols. The addition of these new soft peripherals allows designers to integrate these commonly-required protocols in xCORE-based embedded designs alongside a wide range of other industrial communications standards with timing-predictable, jitter-free control code.
This unique flexibility of configuration allows embedded designers to build systems with the exact combination of interfaces and control capabilities needed for their applications.
via Modbus and CANopen added to multicore industrial communications chips – Electronics Eetimes.
Bristol firm drives down cost of complex silicon chips
XMOS Semiconductor in Bristol is launching a new chip that dramatically reduces the cost of processing for industrial designs.
The xCORE XS1-L4-64 integrates four 32bit processor cores at a price under $3 that is comparable with competing single-core devices but gives ten times the processing power. The devices are used in a wide range of applications, from Sennheiser sound equipment to the latest industrial robots.
“The xCORE L4 offers 400MIPS performance at the price point of other manufacturers’ 40 or 50MIPS products,” said Ali Dixon, Director of Product Marketing and co-founder of XMOS. “Embedded designers working on high-volume applications can now add more features, including those that require real-time determinism, with software that is functionally safe. We believe it’s a real game-changer.”
Priced at just $2.95 in 100‑unit quantities through global distributors, the L4 provides an entry-level platform for designers considering multicore technology for the first time. It is pin-compatible with other members of the xCORE family, opening up the opportunity to cost reduce existing designs.
The new device is aimed at accurate stepper motor control, industrial networking and motion control. With 64bit precision DSP capability, it is also particularly well suited for signal conditioning tasks and applications such as control that combine cost-sensitivity with high performance demands. The xCORE L4 will also help drive the growing trend towards distributed intelligence in embedded design, by allowing developers to locate low-cost processing and communications closer to system nodes such as sensors and actuators.
“The L4 breaks new ground by combining low unit cost, real-time deterministic execution, multicore performance, on-chip DSP and the industry’s fastest response times,” said Nigel Toon, President and CEO, XMOS. “At 400 MIPS it offers a price/performance ratio unbeaten in the world of C-programmable embedded devices. Just as importantly, we provide the design tools engineers need to harness this performance – making the move to multicore technology an instinctive and natural experience.”
The XS1-L4-64 comes in a 48-pin package that is pin-compatible with the existing devices with 64Kbytes of SRAM, the 6-core L6-64 and the 8-core L8-64. This allows designers to take a platform-based approach that permits early implementation of emerging technologies and standards, future-proofing and the addition of new features as requirements evolve. The device continues the XMOS strategy of offering a range of devices at a variety of price points; the xCORE family now includes more than 50 product variants.
Like the rest of the xCORE family, the L4 is supported with the free-to-download xTIMEcomposer development suite that includes compilers, debuggers and unique timing analysis and instrumentation capabilities. The supporting xSOFTip library of soft peripherals and processing blocks provides peripherals such as high speed USB, Ethernet, CAN and LIN via software.
Samples of the XS1-L4-64 are available today, with volume production expected in Q2 2013.
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XMOS First to Move AVB Software Into Open Source
Drives collaborative development of standard media streaming between audio visual devices
Bristol chip designer XMOS is transferring its entire audio-visual software reference design into an Open Source Project to drive the adoption of the technology. This is the industry’s first open source implementation of the popular AVB standard for streaming sound and video over Ethernet standard.
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- Google releases video chat source code (infoworld.com)
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