The industry's first CardBus controller and IEEE-1394a open host controller interface (OHCI) link layer controller integrated into a single chip was announced by Texas Instruments (TI). The device saves designers valuable circuit board space by providing both dual-slot CardBus connectivity and a high-performance IEEE-1394a interface in one device. Integrating these two functions provides a unique solution for implementing 1394 in a notebook computer, docking station, small-factor and LCD (liquid crystal display) desktop systems.

The new product, designated the PCI4450, leverages TI's leadership CardBus and 1394 technologies and demonstrates TI's continued focus on bringing innovations in mixed-signal products to market. The PCI4450 combines the highest performing OHCI link layer controller (OHCI-Lynx) with the highest performing CardBus controller (PCI1450) on the market today.

"We're very excited about the new PCI4450," said Larry Blackledge, Texas Instruments' Worldwide Business Manager for Bus Solutions. "This device brings together two technologies where TI is the clear leader. By combining CardBus and 1394, TI alone has significantly reduced the space and power required for implementing leading-edge mobile platforms. TI's CardBus and 1394 controllers are the highest performing in the industry, and 1394 provides small, high-bandwidth connectors. Enlightened demand has hurled TI's CardBus and 1394 solutions into the lead."

"As personal computing devices get smaller and lighter, space and power become vital issues. Texas Instruments' new controller solves both of these problems," said Anthony Wutka, Chairman of the Board for PCMCIA.

"This is great news for the mobile computing industry. TI has made it very easy to add 1394 as a new differentiating feature," said James Snider, Chairman of the 1394 Trade Association. "By integrating 1394 with the existing CardBus controller, it's effectively the same as adding it to the notebook PC's core-logic."

PCI4450 Special Features

The PCI4450 CardBus capabilities include a pipelined architecture that has data rates greater than 130 megabytes per second. It also includes internal Zoom Video buffers to speed the video display process. It has programmable multifunction pins that can be set by the BIOS thus allowing design flexibility.

The 1394 capabilities include guaranteed delivery of the largest possible asynchronous data packet (400Mbps) to support applications like hard disk drives and printers where individual bit integrity is vital. The device also has four transmit and four receive DMA contexts for isochronous data. This kind of data packet is used in real-time multimedia applications like audio and video where time constraints and bandwidth are essential. The PCI4450 also implements IEEE-1394a performance enhancements.

Reduced Power Consumption

TI's new PCI4450 device also includes advanced power management features. In addition to the best basic power consumption for PCI devices, it supports reduced power consumption modes and "sleep" states. It is compatible with the "Wired for Management Initiative" from Intel to support the "Wake-On-LAN" functionality. This mode of operation allows network administrators to turn on a PC in a deep-sleep low power state (states D0-D3) connected to the network to conduct software maintenance and upgrades at times when the PC is not being used.

Other power management features support the Microsoft "On-Now" initiative, which makes the PC appear more appliance-like to the user by reducing the time required for booting.

Standards Compliance

The PCI4450 is compliant with all appropriate standards for CardBus. It is also compliant with IEEE-1394-1995 and IEEE-1394a, as well as with the PCI specifications (rev. 2.1), and PCI Power Management. Furthermore, it is PCI interface compatible with 3.3V and 5V signaling environments.

TI's Support of Emerging Standards Recognized by the OEM Community

Nine of the top 10 notebook computer manufacturers are currently using TI PCI CardBus solutions, and four of the top six camcorder manufacturers are using TI 1394 solutions. Additionally, TI was the first to market with 1394 solutions that are being used by the makers of PCs and desktop cameras.

This is an important product jump, although I hate to see the semiconductor industry getting into a mode of pre-announcing products presumably to satisfy trade show schedules, but I am less of an optimist than TI about the market. Not the fact that there is -- and will be -- a large market for 1394: it is clear that the future of consumer digital video centers around 1394 just to get DV to be an operable medium! But I am totally unsure about the market differentiation or use for the laptop market. I can understand certain almost-fixed uses, such as in a police officer's squad car, but I know that I am certainly not about to embark on an airplane with a slew of video, or video-like, devices in addition to my laptop.

Whether I would put to use an interface in my docking station is another matter and the answer could be "maybe" but, certainly, my home PC will be equipped with 1394 at my next DVD changeover. But this is all unimportant for the space of the technology and I am not sure why TI is pushing this solution particularly for portable anyway. I see this as a perfectly viable solution for all levels of personal computing and the power, size and performance characteristics are valid across the spectrum.

It is an important jump in technology and will be an extremely successful one for the company. The quotation included in the press release from James Snider should, I believe, have additionally noted that he is also a TI employee so it was not necessarily an "arm's length" statement. But TI is certainly looking to be ahead in this field and will certainly be ready with IEEE-1394b parts when there is an agreed specification.

Both samples and production of the PCI4450 are planned for the first quarter of 1999, with a price of $20.00 for 1000-piece lots.. A 400-Mbit/s IEEE-1394a physical layer chip for notebooks was also announced. The TSB41LV02 offers two 1394 ports in a 64-pin TQFP, priced at $4.99 in 1000-piece lots and also planned for the first quarter of 1999.