Texas Instruments TMS320VC5506GHH

Overview

TMS320VC5506GHH from Texas Instruments is a fixed-point digital signal processor (DSP) featuring a 16-bit dual-MAC CPU core, 320 KB on-chip RAM (192 KB DARAM + 128 KB SARAM), 4-level pipeline, and integrated peripherals including three McBSPs, I²C, USB 1.1, DMA controller, and configurable external memory interface. It operates at 100 MHz (10-ns cycle time) with 3.3-V I/O and 1.6-V core supply, targeting real-time audio processing, voice recognition, and telecom baseband applications.

For engineers reviewing the TMS320VC5506GHH datasheet, TMS320VC5506GHH pinout, TMS320VC5506GHH application, or TMS320VC5506GHH equivalent, key selection criteria include its 179-ball BGA (GHH) package, 100-MHz fixed-point performance, USB 1.1 host/device capability, boot-from-external-memory support, and low-power IDLE modes for portable DSP systems.

Technical Context

The TMS320VC5506GHH implements a modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, enabling simultaneous instruction fetch and operand access. Its CPU includes two 17×17-bit MAC units, a 40-bit ALU, and dual 16-bit accumulators supporting saturation arithmetic and bit-reversed addressing.

Peripherals are memory-mapped and tightly coupled: the USB module supports full-speed (12 Mbps) operation with internal transceiver; the three McBSPs support TI-specific serial protocols, I²S, SPI, and TDM; and the external bus interface supports asynchronous SRAM, ROM, and synchronous SDRAM with programmable timing control via EBSR register.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 179-ball microBGA (GHH), 12 mm × 12 mm, 0.8-mm pitch, bottom-side ball layout per Figure 2−1 (SPRS375C, p.13). Thermal pad exposed on underside for PCB heat dissipation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar fixed-point DSP applications.

Compared with TMS320VC5505GHH, the TMS320VC5506GHH delivers 25% higher deterministic throughput and larger dual-access RAM for complex filter banks; versus TMS320C5515ZAY, it offers identical DSP compute capability at lower cost and smaller footprint, but lacks LCD and advanced USB features.

Availability

TMS320VC5506GHH is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for voice recognition systems, portable audio players, telecom baseband modules, and industrial data loggers requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle embedded programs.

Supply support for TMS320VC5506GHH 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies, with decades of DSP innovation rooted in the TMS320 family.

The TMS320VC5506GHH belongs to the C55x fixed-point DSP product line, designed specifically for ultra-low-power, high-efficiency real-time signal processing in battery-operated and thermally constrained embedded systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the TMS320VC5506GHH?

The TMS320VC5506GHH operates at a maximum frequency of 100 MHz, corresponding to a 10-ns instruction cycle time. This rating is guaranteed under recommended operating conditions: core voltage (VDD) = 1.6 V ± 0.05 V, I/O voltage = 3.3 V ± 0.1 V, and ambient temperature range of –40°C to 85°C. The TMS320VC5506GHH achieves this speed using an internal DPLL that multiplies the input clock (e.g., 10 MHz crystal → 100 MHz system clock).

Does the TMS320VC5506GHH support booting from external flash memory?

Yes, the TMS320VC5506GHH supports booting from external parallel memory devices including NOR flash and EEPROM via its configurable External Memory Interface (EMIF). Boot mode is selected using GPIO pins at reset, and the boot loader in on-chip ROM copies program code from external memory into internal RAM before execution. This eliminates the need for external boot ROM and enables field firmware updates.

What USB capabilities does the TMS320VC5506GHH provide?

The TMS320VC5506GHH integrates a full-speed USB 1.1 controller with an on-chip transceiver, supporting both host and device modes at 12 Mbps. It includes dedicated USB clock generation (APLL), endpoint buffers, and interrupt-driven firmware stack support. The TMS320VC5506GHH does not support USB 2.0 or high-speed operation, and requires no external PHY components for basic USB communication.

How much on-chip RAM does the TMS320VC5506GHH have, and what types are included?

The TMS320VC5506GHH contains 320 KB of on-chip RAM: 192 KB of dual-access RAM (DARAM) and 128 KB of single-access RAM (SARAM). DARAM allows simultaneous read/write access on separate buses-ideal for coefficient storage and ping-pong buffering in real-time filters. SARAM serves general program/data storage. Both blocks are zero-wait-state at 100 MHz and mapped into the unified memory space.

What package type is used for the TMS320VC5506GHH?

The TMS320VC5506GHH uses a 179-ball microBGA package (suffix GHH), measuring 12 mm × 12 mm with 0.8-mm ball pitch. It features a thermal pad on the underside for enhanced heat dissipation and complies with RoHS requirements. Pin assignments and mechanical dimensions are documented in Section 6.2 and Figure 2−1 of the SPRS375C data manual.