Archive Magazine 1996/ARCHIVE_96.iso/discs/mag_discs/volume_9/issue_07/heardnet/StrongInfo

Text File | 1996-03-02 | 7KB | 152 lines

First StrongARM processor core from Digital Semiconductor

Digital/ARM Relationship

In February of 1995, Digital Semiconductor, a Digital Equipment
Corporation business, and Advanced  RISC Machines (ARM) announced an
agreement to collaborate on multiple generations of performance-
focused, ARM-compliant microprocessors. Based on this agreement,
Digital Semiconductor will:

  * develop a family of ARM compliant devices, called StrongARM(TM),
    through an architectural license with ARM Ltd.;
  * manufacture these StrongARM devices at Digital's advanced CMOS
    fabrication facilities;
  * market and sell StrongARM products through Digital Semiconductor's
    sales channels; and
  * with ARM Ltd, license the family of StrongARM cores and standard
    products to ARM's manufacturing licensees.


This relationship builds upon the complementary skill sets of both
companies. Digital Semiconductor brings an advanced, low-voltage
CMOS process, leadership microprocessor and architecture expertise,
and a performance focused design methodology supported by highly
optimized analysis tools. ARM brings expertise in low power CPU
architecture, an innovative multi-source business model, and a mature
suite of development tools.

Building upon the well established ARM architecture provides both
technical and market advantages.  From a technical standpoint, the
32-bit ARM architecture provides a unique combination of high
performance, low power, good code density, low cost and ease of
integration -- all vital requirements for consumer electronics
markets. From a market perspective, the innovative application
specific implementations of the architecture by ARM's semiconductor
partners have resulted in the global proliferation of ARM products in
a broad range of devices. This has made ARM the leading RISC
architecture for embedded consumer applications.


"ARM has made terrific inroads in the world of low-power, high
performance embedded processing. Its simple, modular architecture is
designed just for these kinds of applications. ARM's licensing
partners have also been very aggressive in pushing the processor core
down into the smallest and most power-efficient processors in their
class.

Likewise, Digital has an impressive track record fabricating
small-geometry, low-voltage, high-speed devices. Adding Digital's
expertise into the recipe gives ARM all the ingredients needed to be a
top player in the hot new embedded markets."

James Turley, Senior Editor Microprocessor Report


StrongARM Enabling Technology

At the Microprocessor Forum conference in October 1995, Digital
Semiconductor will preview the first in  a family of StrongARM
processor cores. These cores will be used as enabling technology by
Digital in the  design of a number of high performance microprocessors
-- both standard products and application  specific devices. The first
of these products is in design and will be announced in the first
quarter of 1996.

The StrongARM-1 (SA-1) core is targeted at the high end of the ARM
processor family, with internal  clock rates starting at 160 MHz. The
SA-1 enables performance comparable to today's desktop devices,  but
has been optimized for the low power dissipation and price points
required for embedded consumer  products. The SA-1 core, for example,
contains over 115,000 transistors in less than 4.3 mm2 of silicon.
The power dissipation of the core is only 120 mWatts running at 160
MHz. The first StrongARM products  using the SA-1 core are expected to
deliver close to 400 MIPS of performance per watt of power
dissipation -- a factor of ten more efficient than today's desktop
processors. This metric is the most critical  processor attribute for
designers of battery operated computing and communications devices.

This combination of high performance and low-cost/low-power is
achieved through the application of  several techniques, including:
(1) a performance-focused, low voltage CMOS process; (2) an improved
architectural implementation approach; and (3) the use of Digital's
highly optimized circuit design  techniques, supported by a unique set
of analysis tools.

Process: Digital Semiconductor's 0.35 micron triple layer metal CMOS
process combines a low-voltage  technology (2.0 volt nominal), with
performance optimized transistors. This unique combination of low
voltage and high performance enables StrongARM products with
substantially lower power dissipation,  but without sacrificing
performance. Meanwhile, the 3.3 volt I/O capability allows interfacing
with  off-the-shelf memories and peripheral devices. Finally, the 0.35
micron device geometry, combined with  an advanced 8-inch wafer fab,
allows highly complex devices to be manufactured at costs low enough
to  support consumer price points.

Architecture: The SA-1 core has been upgraded from the Von-Neuman
style architecture used in previous  ARM devices. The SA-1 core has
been designed to use a Harvard style architecture, with separate
instruction and data caches to improve processor performance. The
pipeline has also been upgraded to 5  stages from the current 3 stage
ARM pipeline. Other features include early branch execution, single
cycle  shift-adds, a high performance multiplier and a new five-port
register file.

Design methodology & Tools: The SA-1 core takes advantage of Digital's
high performance CMOS  implementation skills, coupled with a unique
suite of highly optimized analysis tools. The circuit analysis  tools
in particular are tightly coupled to the CMOS process, allowing a more
aggressive design style to be  employed. Other design techniques and
analysis tools have been applied to enable very high speed circuit
operation (in excess of 200 MHz), at very low voltages.

StrongARM products will be compatible with the existing ARM6, 7, and 8
core processors. This will  allow StrongARM products to enter the
market with a portfolio of software already available. This  includes
a variety of software applications targeting emerging consumer
markets, especially in the area of  "smart" handheld devices and
interactive digital video. In addition, a full-suite of development
tools and  operating system environments are available from ARM Ltd.
as well as from third-party tool vendors.

Target Markets

The StrongARM product family will target emerging high volume handheld
and digital video markets.  The handheld market includes products in
areas such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), organizers,
cellular phones, and pagers. The digital video market is segmented
into product groups including  interactive video games, set-top boxes,
and video conferencing. With its breakthrough price/performance  and
power/performance metrics, the StrongARM product family will establish
new industry benchmarks,  positioning it as the leading solution in
these target markets. The first StrongARM product will be  introduced
in early 1996.

"The combination of Digital Semiconductor's very-high performance
design techniques, tools and  fabrication capability with ARM's
expertise in low-cost, low-power microprocessor design has
extraordinary potential. The StrongARM family offers the prospect of
low-power processor performance  that could herald a whole new kind of
functionality for hand-held and other power-constrained
applications."

Andrew Allison, Consultant and Editor of Inside the New Computer Industry

October 1995


Updated: Friday, October 20, 1995
TM