FFT-Based Spectrum Analysis Using a Digital Signal Processor

A spectrum analyzer based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques was implemented using the TMS320C6201 Digital Signal Processor device manufactured by Texas Instruments. Portable C programs demonstrated optimization of the FFT algorithm for maximum speed. Previously published algorithms were adapted to the unique features of this Very-Long Instruction Word (VLIW) parallel processor and application, taking into account fixed-point arithmetic, parallel operation of functional units, and a hierarchy of memory capacities and speeds. The effectiveness of the VLIW C compiler, with automatic optimization, is compared with an explicitly-scheduled assembly-language program. The resulting program was then used to demonstrate the crucial need to keep program data in the Internal Data Memory to preserve hard-won performance gains.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'FFT-Based Spectrum Analysis Using a Digital Signal Processor', published 2001 under ISBN 9781423524175 and ISBN 1423524179.