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First StrongARM(TM) Processor Core from Digital Semiconductor Oct 95
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Digital/ARM Relationship
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In February of 1995, Digital Semiconductor, a Digital Equipment Corporation
business, and Advanced RISC Machines Ltd (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, 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 architectures 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 processes;
(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 METODOLOGY and TOOLS: The SA-1 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
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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 the first quarter of 1996, with
volume production in the summer of 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

 

 

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