Datasheet
ADSP-BF531/ADSP-BF532/ADSP-BF533
Rev. I | Page 11 of 64 | August 2013
PFx pins defined as inputs can be configured to generate 
hardware interrupts, while output PFx pins can be trig-
gered by software interrupts.
• GPIO interrupt sensitivity registers – The two GPIO inter-
rupt sensitivity registers specify whether individual PFx 
pins are level- or edge-sensitive and specify—if edge-sensi-
tive—whether just the rising edge or both the rising and 
falling edges of the signal are significant. One register 
selects the type of sensitivity, and one register selects which 
edges are significant for edge-sensitivity.
PARALLEL PERIPHERAL INTERFACE
The processors provide a parallel peripheral interface (PPI) that 
can connect directly to parallel ADCs and DACs, video encod-
ers and decoders, and other general-purpose peripherals. The 
PPI consists of a dedicated input clock pin, up to three frame 
synchronization pins, and up to 16 data pins. The input clock 
supports parallel data rates up to half the system clock rate and 
the synchronization signals can be configured as either inputs or 
outputs.
The PPI supports a variety of general-purpose and ITU-R 656 
modes of operation. In general-purpose mode, the PPI provides 
half-duplex, bi-directional data transfer with up to 16 bits of 
data. Up to three frame synchronization signals are also pro-
vided. In ITU-R 656 mode, the PPI provides half-duplex bi-
directional transfer of 8- or 10-bit video data. Additionally, on-
chip decode of embedded start-of-line (SOL) and start-of-field 
(SOF) preamble packets is supported.
General-Purpose Mode Descriptions
The general-purpose modes of the PPI are intended to suit a 
wide variety of data capture and transmission applications. 
Three distinct sub modes are supported:
• Input mode – Frame syncs and data are inputs into the PPI.
• Frame capture mode – Frame syncs are outputs from the 
PPI, but data are inputs.
• Output mode – Frame syncs and data are outputs from the 
PPI.
Input Mode
Input mode is intended for ADC applications, as well as video 
communication with hardware signaling. In its simplest form, 
PPI_FS1 is an external frame sync input that controls when to 
read data. The PPI_DELAY MMR allows for a delay (in PPI_-
CLK cycles) between reception of this frame sync and the 
initiation of data reads. The number of input data samples is 
user programmable and defined by the contents of the 
PPI_COUNT register. The PPI supports 8-bit and 10-bit 
through 16-bit data, programmable in the PPI_CONTROL 
register.
Frame Capture Mode
Frame capture mode allows the video source(s) to act as a slave 
(e.g., for frame capture). The processors control when to read 
from the video source(s). PPI_FS1 is an HSYNC output and 
PPI_FS2 is a VSYNC output.
Output Mode
Output mode is used for transmitting video or other data with 
up to three output frame syncs. Typically, a single frame sync is 
appropriate for data converter applications, whereas two or 
three frame syncs could be used for sending video with hard-
ware signaling.
ITU-R 656 Mode Descriptions
The ITU-R 656 modes of the PPI are intended to suit a wide 
variety of video capture, processing, and transmission applica-
tions. Three distinct sub modes are supported:
•Active video only mode
• Vertical blanking only mode
• Entire field mode
Active Video Only Mode
Active video only mode is used when only the active video por-
tion of a field is of interest and not any of the blanking intervals. 
The PPI does not read in any data between the end of active 
video (EAV) and start of active video (SAV) preamble symbols, 
or any data present during the vertical blanking intervals. In this 
mode, the control byte sequences are not stored to memory; 
they are filtered by the PPI. After synchronizing to the start of 
Field 1, the PPI ignores incoming samples until it sees an SAV 
code. The user specifies the number of active video lines per 
frame (in PPI_COUNT register).
Vertical Blanking Interval Mode
In this mode, the PPI only transfers vertical blanking interval 
(VBI) data.
Entire Field Mode
In this mode, the entire incoming bit stream is read in through 
the PPI. This includes active video, control preamble sequences, 
and ancillary data that can be embedded in horizontal and verti-
cal blanking intervals. Data transfer starts immediately after 
synchronization to Field 1. Data is transferred to or from the 
synchronous channels through eight DMA engines that work 
autonomously from the processor core.
DYNAMIC POWER MANAGEMENT
The ADSP-BF531/ADSP-BF532/ADSP-BF533 processors pro-
vides four operating modes, each with a different performance/
power profile. In addition, dynamic power management pro-
vides the control functions to dynamically alter the processor 
core supply voltage, further reducing power dissipation. Control 
of clocking to each of the processor peripherals also reduces 
power consumption. See Table 4 for a summary of the power 
settings for each mode.
Full-On Operating Mode—Maximum Performance
In the full-on mode, the PLL is enabled and is not bypassed, 
providing capability for maximum operational frequency. This 
is the power-up default execution state in which maximum per-
formance can be achieved. The processor core and all enabled 
peripherals run at full speed.










