See also: Microprocessors (x86)

In the following, we bring together resources from Electronics Weekly to provide more detailed reference information about microprocessors, specifically microprocessors not based on the x86 architecture common to general computing systems, such as desktops, laptops and servers.

In this guide we shall consider ARM microprocessors, which tend to dominate in wireless telecom applications, MIPS, which tend to dominate in wired telecom apps, and Texas Instruments' DSPs, for digital signal processing.

For information about the historical development of microprocessors and general computing issues regarding cache, memory, chipsets, 64-bit computing, power saving, Moore's Law and multi-core processing, please see the x86 guide.

ARM

Its processors are used in wireless, consumer and imaging applications, embedded real-time systems for storage, automotive, industrial and networking applications, and secure applications for smart cards and SIM cards.

Currently, eight product families make up the ARM processor range:

• ARM7 processor family (applications:  personal audio (MP3, WMA, AAC players), entry level wireless handsets, two-way pagers)
• ARM9 processor family (applications:  handheld devices (videophones, portable communicators, PDAs), digital consumer products (set-top boxes, home gateways, games consoles, MP3 audio), imaging (desktop printers, cameras), automotive (telematic and infotainment systems)
• ARM9E processor family (applications: handheld devices (as above), digital consumer products (as above), imaging (as above), automotive (powertrain, infotainment, ABS, body control systems), industrial control systems (motion controls, power delivery), networking (VoIP, Wireless LAN, xDSL)
• ARM10E processor family (applications: high performance, low power consumption apps)
• ARM11 processor family (applications: a range of consumer, wireless, automotive applications)
• Cortex processor family (applications: a range of high-performance applications)
• SecurCore processor family (applications: 32-bit solutions for smart card and secure IC development)
• OptimoDE Data Engines (applications: targeted at power-efficient, deeply embedded signal processing applications)

(Video: See Sir Robin Saxby, chairman emeritus at ARM, accept his Lifetime Achievement Award, Elektras 2007)

MIPS Technologies

This company supplies embedded microprocessor cores, instruction set architectures and system controllers. It claims to deliver the "widest range of low power, high-performance processor cores with distinct cost advantages to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs worldwide".

It licenses its MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures for specific application requirements, and MIPS claims its 32-bit and 64-bit combine high performance with low power consumption.

As part of its processor ecosystem, it also supplies a number of software and system-level debug tools. For example, there is MIPS SDE Lite, a free downloadable GNU-based toolchain, and a MIPS Software Toolkit, which bundles SDE with the MIPSsim Instruction Set Simulator, DSP Libraries and support. Note that FS2, a division of MIPS Technologies, also offers a range of System Navigator JTAG probes to support debugging of MIPS-Based designs.

A feature matrix for the MIPS 32-bit cores can be found online. The constituent product families are:

• MIPS32 34K Family (applications: multi-threaded for embedded applications)
• MIPS32 24K Family (applications: home entertainment applications as well as portable, battery-powered consumer devices)
• MIPS32 24KE Family (applications: high performance 24KE cores for efficient DSP capabilities, reducing SoC die area, cost, and power consumption)
• MIPS32 4K Family (applications: for system-on-chip (SoC) applications requiring an easy-to-use, and cost-efficient embedded processor)
• MIPS32 4KE Family  (applications: for SoC designers to target high-performance, low-power consumer applications)
• MIPS32 4KS Family (applications: for secure data applications and suitable for stringent power, security and size requirements for smart cards, without the need of a coprocessor)
• MIPS32 M4K Core (applications: multi-CPU SoC designs, for next-gen networking and broadband applications)
• Pro Series Family (applications: allow SoC designers to write their own instruction set extensions and create differentiated products)

A feature matrix for the MIPS 64-bit cores can be found online. The constituent product families are:

• MIPS64 5K Family (applications: digital consumer applications)
• MIPS64 20Kc core (applications: various, described by MIPS as "the fastest licensable embedded microprocessor IP available today in the industry")

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

TI's MCUs (microcontroller units) come from three product families:

• MSP430 Ultra-Low-Power Microcontrollers These 16-bit RISC MSP430 MCUs are aimed at systems with specific power requirements. TI targets them at 8- to 16-bit battery-powered measurement applications, including metering, portable instrumentation and intelligent sensing.
• TMS470 32-bit RISC ARM7TDMI-Based Microcontrollers  These 32-bit RISC ARM7-based TMS470 MCUs are targeted at applications with a mix of performance and reliability requirements, for example general processing applications including industrial, medical and consumer systems.
• C2000 Digital Signal Controllers These 32-bit TMS320C2000 digital signal controllers, claims TI, offer up to 150 MIPS of DSP processing power with MCU peripheral integration. Possible applications include motor control, power conversion and advanced sensing.

ELECTRONICS WEEKLY NEWS ON NON X86 MICROPROCESSORS

ARM launches Cortex A9 multiprocessor architecture at mobile phones
ARM unveils a new processor architecture specifically for multiprocessors that can put several processors in the space of a single high performance core.

MIPS enters microcontroller market
MIPS processors will be used in microcontrollers for the first time following processor intellectual property firm MIPS’ purchase of analogue and interface design house Chipidea.

ARM adopts boundary scan from XJTAG
ARM has selected XJTAG’s boundary scan development system for debugging and testing its range of ARM RealView development hardware tools.

TI launches DaVinci processor at portable high definition video
Texas Instruments has launched its most application specific DaVinci processor to date with a price and power stream-lined media processor aimed specifically at portable high definition (HD) video designs.

MIPS buys analogue IP firm Chipidea
Processor architecture and core provider MIPS Technologies Inc. announced today plans to acquire Lisbon-based analogue and mixed signal intellectual property (IP) provider Chipidea Microelectronica S.A. for a $147m cash payment.

ARM doubles speed of Cortex processors with Intrinsity
ARM has teamed with US-based embedded processor core developer Intrinsity to create high performance versions of the ARM Cortex-R4 processor.

Mentor tool speeds up ARM verification
Mentor Graphics extends support of its iSolve emulation-based intellectual property (IP) products for speedy verification of wireless and multimedia designs based the ARM processor.

TI outlines 45nm process with high-k plan
To address leakage, or power drain, which has become increasingly problematic as transistor dimensions continue to shrink, Texas Instruments said it will integrate a “high-k” value material within the transistors in its high performance 45nm chips.

ST claims cheapest Cortex-M3 microcontrollers
STMicroelectronics has announced a family of ARM Cortex-M3 based microcontrollers, claiming them to be the cheapest for the available performance.

MIPS launches fastest embedded processor
MIPS Technologies believes its latest processor core has the performance to attack ARM’s Cortex-A8 core in the embedded market for both handhelds and set-top boxes.

DaVinci aims to cut cost of imaging system design
Texas Instruments has introduced two digital signal processors based on its DaVinci multimedia platform for multi-channel video security, machine vision systems and imaging applications.

Freescale goes after ARM in the embedded processor market
Freescale has licensed its low end 32-bit PowerPC cores to IPextreme to sell to automotive and industrial chip designers to take on the ARM core in embedded applications.

ARM targets first core at FPGA designs
ARM has developed its first processor specifically targeted at FPGAs. The Cortex M1 core takes up less space than the previous ARM7 core already available on Actel FPGAs.

ST to sell MIPS-based processor designed in China
STMicroelectronics is working with China’s Academy of Sciences to develop processors, based on a core called Loongson-2E which has been developed in China by the Institute of Computing Technology (ICT).

ARM plays in games market with design tools
ARM is shipping its hardware design tools to software developers in a bid to open up the market for games on phones and set-top boxes.

ARM adds support for 3D mobile graphics chips
ARM has released a software development kit (SDK) for its mobile graphics processors, acquired when it bought Norwegian firm Falanx Microsystems in the middle of last year.

TI adds to Code Composer IDE for DaVinci
Texas Instruments has announced a new version of its Code Composer Studio Platinum integrated development environment (IDE) with features such as a new unified breakpoint manager and cache visibility tools.

Broadcom adds to MIPS processor licences
Broadcom has extended its relationship with MIPS Technologies. The microprocessor IP firm announced that Broadcom will license the entire range of MIPS32 processor cores to power next-generation products for business, service provider and consumer markets.

MIPS introduces platform strategy
MIPS Technologies has unveiled a new platform strategy for MIPS-based system-on-chips. Called SOC-it, MIPS said the platform strategy will simplify design of high-performance SoCs and accelerate time to market.

TI opts for MIPS core to drive down cost of VoIP
Texas Instruments has licensed the MIPS32 24Kc processor core for integrating in to its Gigabit Ethernet IP phone system-on-a-chip (SoC) device.

ELECTRONICS WEEKLY BLOGS

[from Mannerisms]

Chaos Theory For Semiconductor Forecasting
The difficulties of forecasting the semiconductor industry have prompted analysts Future Horizons to resort to the application of chaos theory...

Ten Best Microprocessors
Here are the ten greatest microprocessors ever built.

How Powerful Are The Foundries Going To Get?
Just how much power is the foundry industry going to have? Intel says it will ship its first 45nm production microprocessors in the second half of this year. TSMC is saying it will run commercial 45nm wafers in September with...

[from Parallel Lines]

Students in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have used a PS3 to study the parallel processing capabilities of the Cell microprocessor.
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/parallel-processors/2007/04/students-use-ps3-to-run-progra.html

RELATED ELECTRONICS WEEKLY TRENDS & TECHNOLOGIES

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• Technology Start-ups - www.electronicsweekly.com/startups

Video: See Sir Robin Saxby, chairman emeritus at ARM, accept his Lifetime Achievement Award, Elektras 2007

ARM products and solutions

MIPS cores

Texas Instruments microcontrollers