Page 1142 - The Mechatronics Handbook

The third major trend in embedded microprocessors is aggressive adoption of high-performance
techniques. Traditionally, embedded microprocessors are slow to adopt high-performance architecture
and implementation techniques. They also tend to reuse software development tools, such as compilers
from the computer microprocessor domain. However, due to the rapid increase of required performance
in embedded markets, the embedded microprocessor vendors are now making fast moves in adopting
high-performance techniques. This trend is especially clear in the DSP microprocessors. Texas Instru-
ments, Motorola/Lucent, and Analog Devices have all announced aggressive EPIC DSP microprocessors
to be shipped before the Intel/HP IA-64 EPIC microprocessors.

Microprocessor Market Trends
Readers who are interested in market trends for microprocessors are referred to Microprocessor Report, a
periodical publication by MicroDesign Resources (www.MDRonline.com). In every issue, there is a sum-
mary of microarchitecture features, physical characteristics, availability, and pricing of microprocessors.

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