Joint collaboration enables ARM processor and intrachip bus IP on Xilinx FPGAs

Xilinx is adopting ARM Cortex processor IP, using ARM cell libraries and embedded memories for their programmable platforms. The ARM and Xilinx are working together to define the ARM AMBA interconnect technology that is enhanced and optimized for FPGA architectures.

Xilinx leveraging ARM's processor strengths with flexible computing platforms where IP and software development can be shared and re-used on a broad scale. The suggested applications of these FPGAs are communications, automotive, consumer, aerospace, defense and industrial appliacations.

"Time-to-market pressures and escalating product development costs are driving the development of a new category of products that combines the processor-centric design methods and open standards common in system-on-chip designs, with programmable logic flexibility," said ARM chief technology officer, Mike Muller. "By combining ARM's leadership in low-power, high-performance processor and physical IP technology and its Connected Community ecosystem, with Xilinx's expertise in FPGA technology, we can accelerate the development of applications across a broad set of markets for software developers and hardware designers alike."

"While Xilinx's adoption of ARM processor technology provides a robust roadmap for FPGA-based architectures, the collaboration and joint definition of the next-generation AMBA interconnect specification will deliver the optimization necessary to achieve the system performance, integration, reuse, and scalability required in these products," said Nick Tredennick, a technology analyst for Gilder Publishing. "It provides a common technology basis for IP and system solutions to be developed, scaled, exchanged and shared in a way that will have a profound influence on the programmable logic industry."

"With open, standards-based solutions from Xilinx, we will enable our customers to further focus on their core solutions and differentiation through their IP while re-using established solutions from within and/or from ecosystem providers," said Xilinx senior vice president of World Wide Marketing and Business Development, Vin Ratford. "We also believe this approach will foster a vibrant and robust ecosystem that will expand to provide both standard and emerging IP solutions that can be applied across many industry segments."

Correction to previous article: 'interchip' is corrected as 'intrachip'