An architectural overview of the programmable multimedia processor, TM-1

TM-1 is the first in a family of programmable multimedia processors from the Trimedia product group of Philips Semiconductors. This "C" programmable processor has a high performance VLIW-CPU core with video and audio peripheral units designed to support the popular multimedia applications. TM-1 is designed to concurrently process video, audio, graphics, and communication data. The VLIW-CPU core is capable of executing a maximum of twenty seven operations per cycle, and the sustained execution rate is about five operations per cycle for the tuned applications. The audio unit easily handles different audio formats including the 16-bit stereo data. The video unit is capable of processing different YUV and RGB pixel formats with horizontal and vertical scaling and color space conversion. TM-1 applications can range from low-cost, stand alone systems such as video phones to programmable, multipurpose plug-in cards for traditional computers.