Cadence teams up with ADI to develop the SHARC-FX automotive audio processor, combining AI and DSP on a single 16nm chip

Cadence and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), two major technology and semiconductor players, announced a partnership to develop the latest audio signal processor for the automotive industry in the SHARC family, combining AI and DSP on a single chip.

The partnership

The collaboration brings Cadence's Tensilica DSP architecture to the SHARC-FX core on the new ADSP-SC84x platform, built on 16-nanometer technology, supporting on-chip AI/ML processing to elevate audio and AI for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) and infotainment systems (in-car entertainment and information systems).

ADI launched the ADSP-SC84x/2184x platform, building on the ADSP-SC59x/2159x, moving fabrication from 28 to 16 nanometers, improving power efficiency, supporting higher clock speeds, and increasing system integration. The SHARC-FX core supports an enhanced VLIW SIMD architecture (processing multiple instructions simultaneously) with an instruction set tailored for modern signal and AI workloads.

Hardware and supported workloads

The platform includes an LPDDR4 memory interface, increased on-chip L2 memory, cybersecurity via a Hardware Security Module (HSM), and 2 additional connectivity cores to support Linux. The SHARC-FX core supports AI/ML frameworks like Google LiteRT, offloading audio AI workloads onto itself and reducing the load on the main CPU.

Supported applications include Personal Sound Zones (per-seat audio with 3D rendering), Music Source Separation and real-time vocal removal, Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS), AI-based Road Noise Cancellation (RNC) and Engine Order Cancellation (EOC), smart voice assistants, and Generative AI sound creation.

Cadence's Tensilica IP Group offers automotive DSP IP certified to ISO 26262 ASIL-B, supporting ADAS and safety-critical workloads. ADI provides a full toolset, including Cadence's compiler, the EZ-KIT evaluation system, CrossCore Embedded Studio, SigmaStudio+, and DSP Concepts' Audio Weaver framework.

Source: Techhaus Thailand (Cadence and ADI press release content)