Tensilica Introduces the Smallest, Lowest Power DSP IP Core For Always-Listening Voice Trigger and Voice Recognition

Update: Cadence Completes Acquisition of Tensilica (Apr 24, 2013)

HiFi Mini is Optimized for a Hands-Free Experience

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 3, 2013 –Tensilica, Inc. today introduced the HiFi Mini DSP (digital signal processor) core, the smallest, lowest power DSP IP core supporting always listening voice trigger and speech command modes. Optimized specifically for the smallest area and lowest power in smartphones, tablets, appliances, and automotive applications, the HiFi Mini DSP IP core enables a hands-free experience. Tensilica is working with Sensory and other software partners that will provide the voice-activation, speech command recognition, voice pre-processing and noise reduction products optimized on the HiFi Mini DSP.

“Voice activation and speech command are essential ingredients in making devices much more user friendly, and we see that the market for devices utilizing this technology will explode in the years ahead,” stated Michael Morgan, mobile devices senior analyst with ABI Research. “A number of companies are working on the software side, but it’s also very important to have a very low power DSP to run that software so battery life is not meaningfully impacted. Tensilica’s HiFi Mini will help drive this market.” 

Tensilica optimized the HiFi Mini DSP core to be as small and power efficient as possible for voice trigger and voice recognition in two major ways. First, the core uses compact 40-bit encoding, which significantly improves code size. Second, Tensilica added efficient16-bit instructions that are optimized for voice and audio codecs. The result is a post-route core that’s only 0.039 mm2 in 28 nm HPL.

“Power is the single most important factor in enabling always-on listening capability in mobile devices.  Using Sensory’s Truly Handsfree™ voice control technology, HiFi Mini is able to achieve less than 88 uW of power for the core in 28 nm HPL, achieving both the lowest power consumption and uncompromising accuracy for speech recognition,” stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica’s senior director of mobile multimedia.  “The combination of ultra-low power and small area makes HiFi Mini an attractive addition to mobile as well as other consumer electronics. And as voice control emerges as the natural interface, we expect it will become more ubiquitous as it migrates to automotive, consumer appliances and potentially industrial control.”

The HiFi Mini DSP IP core will be available in March 2013. Tensilica will demonstrate Sensory’s Truly Handsfree voice trigger and speech command products on HiFi Mini at the Consumer Electronics Show in booth MP25060, January 8-11, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV USA.

About Tensilica

Tensilica, Inc. is the leader in dataplane processor IP cores, with almost 200 licensees. Dataplane processors (DPUs) combine the best capabilities of DSPs and CPUs while delivering 10 to 100x the performance because they can be optimized using Tensilica’s automated design tools to meet specific and demanding signal processing performance targets. Tensilica’s DPUs power SOC designs at system OEMs and seven out of the top 10 semiconductor companies for designs in mobile wireless, telecom and network infrastructure, computing and storage, and home and auto entertainment. Tensilica offers standard cores and hardware/software solutions that can be used as is or easily customized by semiconductor companies and OEMs for added differentiation. For more information on Tensilica’s patented, benchmark-proven DPUs visit www.tensilica.com.