Analog Devices Inc. ADSP-21160NCB-100

Overview

ADSP-21160NCB-100 from Analog Devices is a 32-bit SHARC® digital signal processor with dual computational units (PEX/PEY), 100 MHz core instruction rate, 4M-bit on-chip dual-ported SRAM, and SIMD architecture enabling concurrent IEEE 32-bit floating-point operations - deployed in professional audio mixing consoles, medical ultrasound beamformers, and radar signal processors.

For engineers reviewing the ADSP-21160NCB-100 datasheet, ADSP-21160NCB-100 pinout, ADSP-21160NCB-100 application, or ADSP-21160NCB-100 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 100 MHz instruction cycle time, 400-ball PBGA package, glueless multiprocessing support for up to six DSPs, and dual serial/link port I/O for real-time TDM and point-to-point interprocessor communication.

Technical Context

The ADSP-21160NCB-100 implements a Super Harvard architecture with four independent buses (PM/DM address/data) enabling simultaneous instruction fetch, dual data reads/writes, and zero-overhead I/O. Its dual processing elements execute identical instructions on separate data streams under PEX/PEY control, with hardware circular buffer support via two DAGs for FFT and filter delay-line management.

Memory subsystem includes two 2M-bit dual-ported SRAM blocks supporting single-cycle concurrent access by core, I/O processor, and DMA - configured for 128K × 32-bit data or 85K × 48-bit instructions. The external 64-bit parallel bus operates at core clock speed with programmable wait states and supports glueless interfacing to SBSRAM, DRAM, and host microprocessors.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

ADSP-21160NCB-100 is housed in a 400-ball, 27 mm × 27 mm PBGA package with RoHS-compliant lead-free finish. Ball pitch is 1.27 mm. Thermal pad on underside requires solder paste stencil design per Analog Devices AN-711 guidelines.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar digital signal processor applications.

Compared with ADSP-21160NCB-100, ADSP-21161NKBCZ-100 trades multiprocessing capability and memory size for compact packaging, while TMS320C6748ZWT sacrifices IEEE floating-point fidelity and on-chip memory bandwidth for higher clock-rate integer throughput and lower power - making each suitable only for distinct architectural constraints.

Availability

ADSP-21160NCB-100 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for professional audio equipment, medical imaging subsystems, defense radar front-ends, and wireless infrastructure requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for ADSP-21160NCB-100 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Analog Devices, Inc. is a global semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies for precision instrumentation, communications, and industrial applications.

The SHARC® family - including ADSP-21160NCB-100 - was designed for computationally intensive, real-time signal processing tasks demanding deterministic low-latency execution, IEEE floating-point accuracy, and scalable multiprocessing in audio, medical, and defense systems.

FAQ

What is the core architecture of the ADSP-21160NCB-100?

The ADSP-21160NCB-100 implements a Super Harvard architecture with dual computational processing elements (PEX and PEY), each containing an ALU, multiplier, shifter, and 16-register data file. It supports SIMD execution at 100 MHz, enabling concurrent IEEE 32-bit floating-point operations. The ADSP-21160NCB-100 integrates dual DAGs, instruction cache, and four independent buses to sustain four 32-bit data transfers per cycle between memory and core.

Does the ADSP-21160NCB-100 support multiprocessing, and how is it implemented?

Yes, the ADSP-21160NCB-100 supports glueless multiprocessing via its external 64-bit parallel bus and six dedicated link ports. Up to six ADSP-21160NCB-100 devices can be interconnected without external logic, using distributed bus arbitration and broadcast write capability. Interprocessor memory access occurs within the unified 4G-word address space, and the ADSP-21160NCB-100 achieves up to 400 MBytes/s external port throughput for coherent shared-memory operation.

What memory resources are integrated into the ADSP-21160NCB-100?

The ADSP-21160NCB-100 integrates 4M bits of on-chip dual-ported SRAM, organized as two independent 2M-bit blocks. Each block supports single-cycle concurrent access by the core processor, I/O processor, and DMA controller. Memory can be configured for 128K × 32-bit data, 85K × 48-bit instructions, or mixed word sizes up to the 4M-bit limit, with native support for 16-bit floating-point storage to double effective on-chip data capacity.

How does the ADSP-21160NCB-100 handle real-time I/O for audio and communications?

The ADSP-21160NCB-100 provides two synchronous serial ports (50 Mbits/s each) with TDM, μ-law/A-law companding, and independent transmit/receive clocks - ideal for CODEC interfacing in professional audio gear. It also includes six 8-bit link ports running at 100 MBytes/s each for deterministic inter-DSP streaming in radar or beamforming arrays. All I/O paths connect directly to the DMA controller for zero-overhead data movement.

What development tools are officially supported for the ADSP-21160NCB-100?

Analog Devices officially supports the ADSP-21160NCB-100 with VisualDSP++ IDE (legacy) and CrossCore Embedded Studio (current). Both include C/C++ toolchains, JTAG-based debuggers, and libraries for FFT, FIR, and math functions. Hardware support includes EZ-KIT Lite evaluation boards with on-chip emulation, and EZ-Extender daughter cards for audio/video I/O expansion. No official support exists for third-party IDEs or open-source toolchains.