On Mon, 8 May 2017 06:24:08 +0100 Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton lkcl@lkcl.net wrote:
On Mon, May 8, 2017 at 4:00 AM, David Niklas doark@mail.com wrote:
<snip>
important to avoid, because mixed analog and digital is incredibly hard to get right. also note that things like HDMI, SATA, and even ethernet are quite deliberately NOT on the list. Ethernet RMII (which is digital) could be implemented in software using a minion core. the advantage of using the opencores VGA (actually LCD) controller is: i already have the full source for a *complete* linux driver.
Considering that analog was around *long* before digital I'm surprised that it is "Hard to get right",
analog isn't "hard". digital isn't "hard". specifically *MIXING* them is ultra-hard.
is there a reason for this?
completely different processes and design criteria. the restrictions (design rules) placed on digital ASIC layouts have to be adhered to in the *analog* areas: you can't just change the stack to suit the analog areas. i don't know the full details, but i know someone with 30 years experience of working with ASICs who does.
Isn't there a chip for just this kind of thing?
no. not a custom one... and we're taking custom ASICs.
Forgive me for contradicting you again, but don't all computers that have a MIC in jack using some sort of analog to digital converter? And vice-versa with Headphone out? I think they all use PCM. Would such a converter be suitable? Why?
Thanks, David