Documentation Support
4.1 Device and Development-Support Tool Nomenclature
To designate the stages in the product development cycle, TI assigns prefixes to the part numbers of all
TMS320 DSP devices and support tools. Each TMS320 DSP commercial family member has one of three
prefixes: TMX, TMP, or TMS (e.g., TMS320VC5407/TMS320VC5404). Texas Instruments recommends two
of three possible prefix designators for support tools: TMDX and TMDS. These prefixes represent evolutionary
stages of product development from engineering prototypes (TMX/TMDX) through fully qualified production
devices/tools (TMS/TMDS).
Device development evolutionary flow:
TMX Experimental device that is not necessarily representative of the final device’s electrical specifications
TMP Final silicon die that conforms to the device’s electrical specifications but has not completed quality
and reliability verification
TMS Fully qualified production device
Support tool development evolutionary flow:
TMDX Development-support product that has not yet completed Texas Instruments internal qualification
testing.
TMDS Fully qualified development-support product
TMX and TMP devices and TMDX development-support tools are shipped against the following disclaimer:
“Developmental product is intended for internal evaluation purposes.”
TMS devices and TMDS development-support tools have been characterized fully, and the quality and
reliability of the device have been demonstrated fully. TI’s standard warranty applies.
Predictions show that prototype devices (TMX or TMP) have a greater failure rate than the standard
production devices. Texas Instruments recommends that these devices not be used in any production system
because their expected end-use failure rate still is undefined. Only qualified production devices are to be used.
TMS320 is a trademark of Texas Instruments.
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November 2001 − Revised April 2004
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