Mobile Chips

I need some information on the type of chips (FGPA, ASICetc) that sits
on a mobile phone. We have to implement an algorithm on a mobile phone,
and we are not sure what are the kinds of chip configurations
available. My early research tells me that FGPA's are reconfigurable
but are energy intensive, and can be boarded only in standard size.
Whereas ASIC chips are not reconfigurable..but they consume low
energy..resulting in higher battery lifes. Are there more kind of
implementations? Are there some good internet resources that can give
me a good introduction. I would also appreciate if someone could tell
me relevant usenet groups for such kind of discussions.

Rohit

On 25 Nov 2005 07:16:37 -0800, rohit.tripathy.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:

>I need some information on the type of chips (FGPA, ASICetc) that sits
>on a mobile phone. We have to implement an algorithm on a mobile phone,
>and we are not sure what are the kinds of chip configurations
>available. My early research tells me that FGPA's are reconfigurable
>but are energy intensive, and can be boarded only in standard size.
>Whereas ASIC chips are not reconfigurable..but they consume low
>energy..resulting in higher battery lifes. Are there more kind of
>implementations? Are there some good internet resources that can give
>me a good introduction. I would also appreciate if someone could tell
>me relevant usenet groups for such kind of discussions.

Most mobile phones would probably use an ASIC and a microcontroller
and possibly a discrete 3rd chip for memory. ARM chips are quite
popular for the microcontrollers, though the exact details will vary
from one phone to the next. Memory would probably be either some
fairly standard DRAM and/or Flash, though either or both could be
integrated into the other two chips. The ASIC will probably handle
most of the actually work of connecting to the network,
sending/receiving signals and whatnot.

You might want to try comp.arch.embedded for a newsgroup where these
sorts of things would be discussed. Another good resource would
probably be to get a busted mobile phone (there are LOTS of them
about) and crack the thing open.

-------------
Tony Hill
hilla <underscore> 20 <at> yahoo <dot> ca