Embedded Processor Watch

Editor: Cary D. Snyder

Contributors to this issue: Kevin Krewell, Markus Levy, and Cary Snyder

In This Issue:

• ARM Drives V6 to MP Forum
• Excalibur Sharpened by NIOS 2.0
• FPGAs Catch Fire at MPF
• Quicker MIPS Designs Rule
• National Polishes Geode
• Motorola's MPC8540 Parts OCean
• Embedded Tidbits
  

ARM Drives V6 to MP Forum
SIMD and Multiprocessing Fuel New Architecture
By Markus Levy {11/26/01-03}

At Microprocessor Forum 2001, ARM presented initial details of its ARMv6 architecture. Although Intel and Texas Instruments announced their licensing of the ARMv6 about four months ago, there are still not many clues about their V6 endeavors. The new architecture boasts seven fundamental features, but we’re sure many more new features will surface when the first implementation of ARMv6 appears, probably early in 2002. In short, the new features include support for mixed-endian modes; support for unaligned memory access; a multifaceted L1 memory system; revised memory management; enhancements to exception and interrupt handling; new synchronization primitives for multiprocessor environments; and a new single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) instruction that adds to those ARM announced at the 2000 Microprocessor Forum.

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1126/154803.html ).

Excalibur Sharpened by NIOS 2.0
Altera's MPF Presentation on Microprocessors in Programmable Logic
By Cary D. Snyder {12/03/01-01}

The foundation for increased use of microprocessors in programmable logic has been strengthened by Altera’s introduction of its new Nios 2.0 soft-core embedded processor. The Nios 2.0 introduction was part of two Altera presentations during the October 16 Microprocessor Forum 2001 session on "Microprocessors in Programmable Logic," held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. Altera’s presentations helped illustrate how Altera is taking market share away from ASIC manufacturers: it combines the performance of ASIC technology with the ease of programmable logic (see MPR 10/16/00-01, "Embedded Processor World War").

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1203/154901.html ).

FPGAs Catch Fire at MPF
Xilinx Fans the Flames with MicroBlaze and Virtex-II Pro
By Cary D. Snyder {11/5/01-03}

The formal product introduction of Xilinx's MicroBlaze soft processor core occurred at a presentation during the October 16 Microprocessor Forum 2001 session on "Microprocessors in Programmable Logic," held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Calif. A second presentation outlining architectural details of Xilinx's Virtex-II Pro and including the Xilinx microprocessor strategy immediately followed. Xilinx, the leading FPGA vendor, was well represented in two presentations by Reno Sanchez, IP engineering site manager of Xilinx's New Mexico operation, and one presentation by Steve Douglass, director of new-product development at the company's headquarters in San Jose, Calif.

Xilinx is rapidly playing catch-up with Altera, its primary competitor; however, each is targeting different markets, as indicated by their choice of instruction set architecture (ISA). Xilinx is targeting the communications infrastructure with its Virtex-II Pro PowerPC embedded processor cores based on the IBM 405. Indications are that talks between Altera and Motorola about licensing the Motorola PowerPC cores are going slowly; the issue may be that Motorola doesn't have an IP business model like IBM's and may not yet have a PowerPC core to offer as licensable IP. This situation leaves Altera with only ARM9-based products shipping, although plans still include future MIPS-based devices; both these products target a different market than Xilinx does.

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1105/154503.html ).

Quicker MIPS Designs Rule
MPF Features First QuickMIPS Device!
By Cary D. Snyder {11/5/01-04}

A presentation during the October 16 Microprocessor Forum 2001 session "Microprocessors in Programmable Logic" featured the first public presentation of QuickLogic's new Embedded Standard Product (ESP) device based on the QuickMIPS MIPS 4Kc processor. The presentation, at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel, by Hyong Kim, QuickLogic's chief architect, introduced technical details of the company's newest combination ASIC and programmable logic ESP. The QL901M ESP will ship this quarter to early adopters and be in full production in 1Q02.

QuickLogic isn't the only programmable logic vendor with MIPS hard-core processor plans; Altera made its product announcement for its MIPS 4Kc-based Excalibur family last year. At that time Altera said devices would ship by the beginning of 2001. However, as of October 2001, Altera had not even taped out EXPM (MIPS-based) sample parts. Instead of going forward with its MIPS-based products, it has chosen to focus resources on three devices in its EXPA ARM-based family: the EXPA1, EXPA4, and EXPA10. These combination ASIC and PLD devices, which have different amounts of programmable logic, have taped out and are shipping (see MPR 10/16/00-01, "Embedded Processor World War").

QuickLogic, by shipping its first MIPS device, is attempting to get in on the emerging SoC trend that combines a hard microprocessor core with programmable logic. A smaller player in the FPGA market, QuickLogic is aware that it must focus on the market niches it knows best, something it seems to be doing with its choices of processor technology and feature set.

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1105/154504.html ).

National Polishes Geode
New Geode GX2 Cranks Up Performance on Internet Appliances
By Markus Levy {11/5/01-02}

Through all the ups and downs of the Internet appliance market, National Semiconductor has stayed the course with its evolution of processors targeting this application area. On October 17, 2001, at Microprocessor Forum, National announced technical details of its new Geode GX2 processor. This new device builds on the company’s x86 lineage and also includes the silicon implementation of the GeodeLink system architecture that National announced at the 2001 Embedded Processor Forum. Although the GX2 is no speed demon compared with x86 processors from AMD and Intel, National has made some significant improvements to the device’s core as well as to the integrated memory controller and the display controller.

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1105/154502.html ).

Motorola's MPC8540 Parts OCean
Smart Peripherals and e500 Core Communicate Via Crossbar Switch
By Markus Levy {12/17/01-01}

Highly integrated processors that move tremendous amounts of data among various on-chip elements are designed to operate on more than luck. A key ingredient of Motorola's MPC8540 is a nonblocking crossbar switch fabric called OCeaN (On-Chip Network). The Ocean fabric is the glue that holds the MPC8540 system-on-a-chip (SoC) together. The MPC8540's implementation of Ocean supports six full-duplex ports. The MPC8540 also integrates an e500 core, 256K of on-chip L2 cache, and a variety of intelligent data-moving peripherals. This is Motorola's first device using the e500 core that the company announced at the 2001 Embedded Processor Forum. The MPC8540 has the distinction of being the first publicly announced RapidIO-enabled processor.

(The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2001/1217/155101.html ).

Embedded Tidbits
By Cary D. Snyder {12/10/01-02}

ADI Targets Digital Audio Market With Its SigmaDSP

Analog Devices has announced the first processor in its SigmaDSP family of digital audio processors. Called the AD1954, the processor improves sound quality and reduces distortion when high-volume music is being played. The digital-to-analog converters (DAC), together with a digital-signal processor (DSP) running optimized audio algorithms, provide a range of 112dB. "The AD1954 SigmaDSP is an alternative to a fully programmable DSP or all-analog solution," said Patrick O'Doherty, product line director, Digital Audio Group, Analog Devices. "This first SigmaDSP solution both demystifies DSP development for the analog designer and makes affordable the addition of DSP functionality to a wide range of automotive stereos and to the entire spectrum of home stereo systems."

ADI provides a Microsoft Windows compatible graphical user interface (GUI) to configure the processor. The processor is available in either a 44-pin MQFP or a 48-pin TQFP package and is rated for an extended -40†C to +105†C temperature range. It is now sampling, and production is scheduled to begin 1Q01. Pricing begins at $5.88 in quantities of 10,000.

Automotive Powertrains Will Use Motorola's Next-Generation MPC5xxx Family of MCUs

The Fiat-owned Magneti Marelli Powertrain is an international leader in the design and production of high-tech components and systems for the automotive industry, supplying automobile manufacturers BMW, Citroen-Peugeot, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat-GM, Renault-Nissan, and Volkswagen. Magneti Marelli has chosen Motorola's MPC500 Family for its Direct Diesel Injection system and to develop future Powertrain control systems based on the new MPC5500 family. Motorola will supply 32-bit microcontrollers (MCU) for electronic systems that will be in volume production beginning in model-year 2003 vehicles, continuing into the next generation with the MPC5500 Family of MCUs. The MPC5xx has a PowerPC core up to 56MHz, and the new MPC5500 will use a PowerPCe core up to 400MHz. www.motorola.com/semiconductors

Merger Could Unite DRAM Foes

Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Micron Technology Inc. have confirmed they are in discussions regarding a possible strategic alliance. A merger would result in the company's having 50 percent of the DRAM market, in terms of capacity and production, within a year. Such a deal would likely see Seoul-based Hynix valued at about $3 billion, with Micron paying for Hynix mostly with stock and, at the most, $500 million in cash.

Fueling Fuel Cells for Consumer Electronics

Electric Fuel Corporation has just announced it has developed an ultrahigh-performance zinc-air micro fuel cell that will outperform competing hydrogen, methanol, and ethanol fuel cells currently under development for consumer electronics applications. Intended uses for this expansion line will be notebook computers, certain handheld power tools, and similar high-powered devices. www.electric-fuel.com/index.shtml

Tidbits
By Kevin Krewell {12/26/01-02}

Transmeta's TM5800 Shipments Stall

In a December 12, 2001, update to its 4Q01 financial outlook, Transmeta revealed it is having manufacturing problems with the TM5800 Crusoe processor. Transmeta indicated that the TM5800 required a metal mask change to correct manufacturing difficulties and that the company would resume volume-manufacturing deliveries in February 2002. Until then, only limited quantities of the product will be available. Transmeta expects revenues to drop to only $1 million in 4Q01, down sharply from $5 million in the preceding quarter and from $12.5 million in 4Q00. This precipitous revenue drop illustrates the danger of being a one-product company. Fortunately for Transmeta, it has sufficient financial resources to ride out this manufacturing shortfall.

Transmeta's notebook customers had recently migrated to the new 0.13-micron processor from the 0.18-micron TM5600. The TM 5800 offers higher frequencies, up to 800MHz, and less power consumption than its predecessor does. Transmeta has also switched foundries, with the TM5800 being produced solely by TSMC, whereas the TM5600 was manufactured by IBM Microelectronics.