Analog Devices Blackfin, Getting Started

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What are Blackfin Processors?
1-4 Getting Started With Blackfin Processors
capabilities that enable users to define separate application development
spaces. This design feature prevents distinct code sections from being
overwritten. At the same time, the Blackfin processor’s architecture allows
asynchronous interrupts and synchronous exceptions, as well as program-
mable interrupt priorities. Thus, Blackfin processors are well suited as
targets for embedded operating systems.
Approaches to Application Development
Blackfin processors have a peripheral set that supports high-speed serial
and parallel data movement. In addition, Blackfin processors include an
advanced power management feature set that allows system architects to
craft designs with low dynamic power profiles.
In today’s design model, MCU and traditional processor programmers
often partition their code development into two separate groups, interact-
ing only at the system boundary level where their two functional worlds
meet. This makes some sense, as two separate groups of designers can
develop their own sets of design practices based on application require-
ments. For instance, signal processing developers may want to implement
techniques to improve performance. Another group may have opposing
design goals; MCU programmers, for example, may prefer implementing a
turnkey system and letting it perform all tasks without user intervention.
With this in mind, Blackfin processors were designed to support both
DMA and cache memory controllers to move data through a system. Mul-
tiple high-speed DMA channels shuttle data between peripherals and
memory systems, allowing the fine-tuning controls sought by processor
programmers without using up valuable core processor cycles. Conversely,
on-chip configurable instruction and data caches allow a hands-off
approach to managing code and data in a manner very familiar to MCU
programmers. Often, at the system integration level, a combination of
both approaches is ideal.