Embedded Processor Watch

Senior Editor: Tom Halfhill

Contributor to this issue: Keith Diefendorff, Senior Analyst

In This Issue:

• Cadence to Spin Off Alchemy
• Transmeta Lands $88 Million
• StrongARM Design Win: iPAQ Pocket PC
• Mosys 1T-SRAM Gains Momentum
• Embedded Processor Forum: June 12-16

Cadence to Spin Off Alchemy

Austin-based startup Alchemy Semiconductor (formerly Alchemy Microprocessor Design Group) has landed $15 million in first-round venture funding and is preparing to spin off from parent company Cadence Design Systems. The financing was provided by U.S. Venture Partners, Austin Ventures, and Telos Ventures. Alchemy was founded last year by a group of former Digital Semiconductor engineers who are veterans of the StrongARM design team (see Embedded Processor Watch #43, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_43.html).

Alchemy has a MIPS32 license from MIPS Technologies and is working on a highly integrated embedded processor for networking applications. The processor is expected to deliver high performance (in the 500MHz range) and low power consumption (as low as 200mW). Alchemy plans to reveal its design at Embedded Processor Forum on June 13. For more information: http://www.alchemysemi.com. --T.R.H.

Transmeta Lands $88 Million

Transmeta's announcement today of a deal with Gateway and AOL to supply Crusoe chips for information appliances shows that at least some of the companies investing in Transmeta are interested in becoming customers too. Transmeta (see Embedded Processor Watch #86, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_86.html) recently secured $88 million in financing from an impressive list of corporate investors, including AOL, Compal, Compaq, FIC, Gateway, Phoenix, Samsung, Sony, and Quanta. Of the $88 million, $16 million came from existing investors Soros Fund, Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures, Van Wagoner Capital, Invemed, Tudor, Five Points Capital, and Deutsche Bank.

This successful round of financing from such a powerful group of companies can only be interpreted as a strong vote of confidence in Transmeta's code-morphing technology, its products, and its future. It indicates that the fabless chip company, which is focused on the low-power mobile market, has some very big plans for future growth. Transmeta hasn't disclosed plans for new Crusoe processors beyond the TM3120 and TM5400, but, considering that IBM fabs these parts, Transmeta would be remiss if it weren't eyeing IBM's silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, which would significantly reduce power consumption without sacrificing speed. --K.D.

StrongARM Design Win: iPAQ Pocket PC

Compaq is using Intel's StrongARM SA-1110 processor and StrataFlash memory in its iPAQ Pocket PC, which runs the latest version of Microsoft's Windows CE operating system for consumer-oriented embedded applications. The 206MHz SA-1110 has a first-generation StrongARM core and an integrated memory controller, and it typically consumes less than 500mW (see Embedded Processor Watch #42, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_42.html). The iPAQ is one of several new handheld PCs that Microsoft hopes will rejuvenate Windows CE, which is now known as Windows for Pocket PCs. For more information: http://www.intel.com/pressroom. --T.R.H.

Mosys 1T-SRAM Gains Momentum

Chartered Semiconductor has verified MoSys 1T-SRAM on its standard 0.25-micron logic process, opening the door for system-on-a-chip developers to integrate the unique memory technology into their designs (see Embedded Processor Watch #38, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_38.html). Chartered previously verified 1T-SRAM on its 0.18-micron logic process, so both options are now available. MoSys also concluded a deal with UMC to make 1T-SRAM available on that company's logic processes as well. For more information: http://www.mosys.com, http://www.charteredsemi.com, and http://www.umc.com. --T.R.H.

Embedded Processor Forum: June 12-16

Time is running out to register for the Embedded Processor Forum, to be held June 12-16 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Vendors will introduce more than 20 new embedded processors, and analysts will present six full-day technical seminars. Embedded Processor Forum will give you the in-depth technical information you need to make winning embedded-design decisions. Detailed information about the presentations at the forum is now available on the Cahners MicroDesign Resources web site at http://www.MDRonline.com/EPF. You can also call 800.527.0288 or 408.328.3900 for more information or to receive a brochure.