ARM Intros New Architecture
Online staff -- 3/9/2005
Electronic News
IP powerhouse ARM this week disclosed the technical details of its new ARM v7 architecture, which segments its embedded IP processors to serve three distinct types of markets.
The new architecture separates the processors into “profiles” including the A profile for operating systems such as Symbian and Windows CE, for use in applications such as wireless and home entertainment. The R profile has been created for real-time systems and the M profile is targeted at the microcontroller and low-cost application market.
By separating its processors into three different profiles, all based on the same architecture, ARM is enabling designers to match their CPU to target application and optimize performance, power consumption, code size and silicon cost, the company said.
In addition, ARM is diversifying to serve the competitive, cost-sensitive microcontroller market.
“Our microcontroller comes in at a lower cost than ever before,” said Noel Hurley, manager of CPU product marketing and EDA relations at ARM.
The new architecture builds on the ARMv6 architecture which is implemented in the ARM11 processor family. It implements the Thumb-2 technology, built on ARM’s Thumb code compression while retaining code compatibility with existing ARM technology.
Thumb-2 uses 31 percent less memory than pure 32-bit code, reducing system cost and delivering up to 38 percent better performance than existing Thumb technology, according to ARM. It is also backwards compatible with existing ARM technology, added David Brash, architecture program manager at the company.
Both the A and R series profiles run both Thumb and Thumb-2. The M series runs only Thumb-2 because there is no legacy Thumb in the marketplace, Brash said.
The ARMv7 architecture also includes NEON technology extensions to increase DSP and media processing throughput by up to 400 percent, and offers improved floating point support for next-generation 3D graphics and games, as well as traditional embedded control applications, ARM said.
In addition, ARM’s new Cortex processor family, introduced in October 2004, is aligned with the ARM v7 architecture profiles and will include processors for complex OS, real-time and microcontroller applications. |
