AT&T Introduces ”Hobbit” Processors; Makes ”Personal Communicators” Possible
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — October 12, 1992 — AT&T Microelectronics Monday announced the availability of its Hobbit (TM) family of processors, which will make possible a new class of devices called personal communicators: small, mobile devices that accept pen input, and which will be used primarily for communications.
Personal communicators will allow users to exchange voice, fax and electronic mail messages via landline and wireless telecommunications media. Eventually, they will incorporate graphics and full-motion video capabilities.
''Personal communicators will help people stay in touch anywhere, at any time, and as such they have enormous potential to improve the way people interact,'' said William Warwick, president of AT&T Microelectronics.
''The Hobbit chip set is a complete solution for the special requirements of these new devices, and will enable equipment manufacturers to offer personal communicators even to customers who might never consider purchasing a computer.''
The first generation Hobbit family is led by the ATT92010 microprocessor, a high-performance central processing unit that consumes very little power, making it the ideal engine for personal communicators.
The processor operates at 3.3 volts and achieves a performance level of 13.5 VAX MIPS. The performance/power ratio achieved is thus 37 VAX MIPS per Watt: almost five times that of the Intel 486DX, and nearly 30 times that of the Intel 386SL.
''The Hobbit microprocessor is the first to combine high performance, low power consumption and special communications advantages with aggressive pricing,'' said Ahmed Nawaz, senior director of AT&T Microelectronics' Personal Communication Systems business unit.
''The architecture is suited to further levels of integration of chip set and communications functions, including digital signal processors, to enhance this solution for future generations of personal communicators.''
The current Hobbit family is complemented by AT&T Microelectronics' recently announced low-power V.32/V.32bis modem chip set, the first such complete chip set for PCMCIA, which also targets personal communicators.
Nawaz said a number of key equipment manufacturers and software vendors that will create products around the Hobbit family will join AT&T at COMDEX in November to announce their support, and to attend the first public showing of personal communicators.
Derived from AT&T Bell Laboratories' CRISP (C-Language Rational Instruction Set Processor) architecture, the full 32-bit, 20-MHz microprocessor combines the best aspects of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) devices, such as high performance, with the best aspects of CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) devices, such as high code density.
The Hobbit microprocessor also provices such capabilities as high-speed context switching and fast interrupt response, which make it uniquely suited for handling the real-time multitasking requirements of personal communicators. A technical paper describing the Hobbit chip set in full detail will be delivered Oct. 14 at the Microprocessor Forum in Burlingame, Calif.
The other members of the Hobbit family are:
— The 92011 System Management Controller, which provides system level control and power management for all devices in the chip set, helping the overall system achieve maximum performance with minimum power consumption and providing access to communications capabilities;
— The 92012 PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Controller, which provides access to external memory and input/output devices and provides four PCMCIA slots for a wide range of connectivity options;
— The 92013 Peripheral Controller, which provides designers of Hobbit-based systems with a standard interface for adding input/ouput peripheral functions and can accommodate up to eight devices; and
— The 92014 Display Controller, which supports both LCD and CRT-type displays and a range of programmable display sizes and pixel depths.
To support developers of Hobbit-based personal communicators, AT&T also is offering the 92010 Development System, a PC plug-in development board and Windows 3.1-based symbolic debugger; and a full line of software development tools for MS DOS, OS/2 and SUN OS platforms.
All Hobbit products are orderable today, for delivery by the end of 1992. The Hobbit CPU costs $35 in quantities of 10,000; in a typical design, the microprocessor and chip set will cost under $100.
AT&T Microelectronics produces a wide range of semiconductor and electronic components for applications such as personal communicators, personal computers, workstations, local-area networks and telecommunications, and possesses deep resources in design tools and standard-cell and programmable logic.
For product literature, call the AT&T Customer Response Center, 800/372-2447, ext. 853 (in Canada, 800/553-2448, ext. 853); fax number +1-215/778-4106 (especially for customers outside North America). The Hobbit microprocessor family is managed by AT&T Microelectronics' Personal Communication Systems business unit, 4995 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, Calif., 95054.
Note to Editors: Hobbit is a trademark of AT&T. Intel is a trademark of Intel Corp. Windows and MS-DOS are trademarks of Microsoft Inc. 0S/2 is a trademark of IBM. Sun OS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems Inc.
CONTACT:
AT&T
Kevin Compton, 408/522-4099 (work)
408/980-3789 (work after Oct. 12)
408/353-3883 (home)
Mary Lou Ambrus, 908/771-3268 (work)
907/707-1147 (home)