Cortex-M4 processor from ARM for digital
signal control apps
ARM has released a new Cortex-M4 processor that provides
a high efficient solution for digital signal control (DSC)
applications.
The combination of high-efficiency signal processing functionality
of Cortex-M4 processor with the benefits of the Cortex-M
family processors is to satisfy the solutions that are targeting
the motor control, automotive, power management, embedded
audio and industrial automation markets.
The Cortex-M4 processor features a single-cyclemultiply-accumulate
(MAC) unit, optimized single instruction multiple data (SIMD)
instructions, saturating arithmetic instructions and an
optional single precision Floating-Point Unit (FPU). These
features include a 32-bit core capable of 1.25DMIPS/MHz
for high performance, Thumb-2 instructions for optimum code
density and a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller for outstanding
interrupt handling. In addition, the processor also features
an optional Memory Protection Unit (MPU), low cost debug/trace
and integrated sleep states for increased flexibility.
The Cortex-M4 processor is supported by the ARM physical
IP portfolio offering the wide foundry and technology support
for physical implementations. This includes the Cortex-M
Low Power Optimization Package for the TSMC CE018FG (180nm
ULL) process for Partners targeting low-power implementations.
Cortex-M4 processor is already licensed NXP Semiconductor,
ST Microelectronics and Texas Instruments.
"The signal processing requirements of the embedded
market are moving from dedicated processors toward hybrid
microcontrollers. These products are capable of delivering
outstanding digital signal control while providing the flexibility
to efficiently perform other processing operations,"
said Will Strauss, president of Forward Concepts, the premier
market research firm tracking markets based on digital signal
processing (DSP) technology. "The ARM partnership will
capitalize on this shift with the introduction of the Cortex-M4
processor which has all of the capabilities for optimum
digital signal control operations combined with the proven
low power performance of the Cortex-M family processors."
"The addition of the ARM Cortex-M4 processor to our
ARM Cortex portfolio complements our Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M0
processor-based devices and enables us to provide an end
to end solution to the MCU community," said Geoff Lees,
General Manager, Microcontroller Product Line, NXP Semiconductors.
"The Cortex-M4 processor now enables a new class of
microcontrollers to meet the high-performance, low-cost
needs of the signal processing markets."
"ARM has included DSP functionality in our processors
for some time and they have been extremely successful in
the applications market, but this is the first time we have
designed a processor with digital signal control capabilities
for deeply embedded devices," said Eric Schorn, Vice
President of Marketing, Processor Division, ARM. "The
Cortex-M4 processor has been designed to address the increasing
demand for signal processing in an ever-increasing range
of embedded applications including motor control, automotive,
industrial automation, power management and audio applications."
For more details visit www.arm.com
