ARM launches next-generation chip for deeply embedded systems; targets 1 billion units
Cambridge-headquartered chip designer ARM Holdings (ARM.L) today announced the new Cortex-R4 processor for the next generation of mobile phones, hard-disk drives, printers and automotive designs, targeting more than one billion units in the embedded market, at the Spring Processor Forum, in San Jose, California.
The Cortex-R4 processor delivers exceptional performance and efficiency to execute the complex control algorithms and real-time workloads in next-generation embedded products. It enables configurability during synthesis to optimise the processor for different embedded applications through the memory protection unit, caches and tightly coupled memory. It does this without compromising the underlying ARM instruction set compatibility, maximising the reuse of existing software investments by application developers and third parties.
"For many years the low power, low cost ARM processor has been the architecture of choice for embedded microprocessor applications," said Will Strauss, president and principal analyst, Forward Concepts. "With the Cortex-R4 processor, ARM has listened to its customers and produced the product needed for the next generation of design challenges, continuing the ARM tradition of finding the market sweet spot and providing appropriate solutions to serve that market."
"The embedded market is evolving rapidly as systems become more sophisticated and software workloads increase in computational size and complexity." said John Cornish, VP, Marketing, Processor Division, ARM. "The processor meets the needs of next-generation embedded products by delivering exceptional performance, efficiency, and configurability. This latest member of our Cortex processor family gives chip designers unparalleled capabilities for the development of 3G phones, hard-disk drives, imaging and automotive systems."
The Cortex-R4 provides the increased performance essential for the diverse needs of the embedded market. The processor features an advanced microarchitecture with dual instruction issue capability to deliver more than 600 Dhrystone MIPS in a performance optimised 90nm implementation, based upon the ARM Artisan Advantage library. It also provides key savings in cost and power consumption for system developers, occupying less than 1mm2 and consuming less than 0.27mW/MHz in an area optimised 90nm implementation.
Lead lincensees
ARM has already secured three lead licensees for the new design including Broadcom, and the processor has received support from major EDA, RTOS and tools vendors.
"Broadcom's design teams have been working with ARM to accelerate our leadership position in a number of markets, including next-generation storage, networking, and mobile devices," said Ed Frank, VP of Research & Development, Broadcom. "The new Cortex-R4 processor from ARM will bring significant performance and functionality benefits to our products and enhance the end user's experience."
"Pressure on the silicon design chain to do more in less time naturally affects system quality, which is why the flexibility of the Cortex-R4 processor is so important," said Larry A Traylor, CEO, American Arium, another ARM Partner. "Our Partnership with ARM will maximise the advantages of the Cortex-R4 processor's configurability by offering JTAG emulators with advanced Linux debug features, and high-speed ETM trace port analysers tailor-made to the Cortex-R4."
Another ARM Partner, William E Lamie, CEO and President, Express Logic, Inc, said that "ARM has always pioneered new industry trends and the Cortex-R4 processor represents an opportunity for every part of the electronics design chain.
"Our ThreadX RTOS, which is already deployed in over 300 million devices, will offer Cortex-R4 processor designers an intuitive and highly functional platform for development with a small memory footprint, which is vital for next-generation consumer technology. The Cortex R4 processor offers incredible flexibility which will easily be accessible through ThreadX," he said.
15th May 2006
