SEMICONDUCTOR SPOTLIGHT
Actel's CoreMP7
QUICK TAKE:
Actel Corp. has announced the CoreMP7,
a soft ARM7 family processor optimized for use in Actel
FPGAs.
ACTEL CORP., Mountain View, CA. (888) 992-2835.
More Info:
Optimized for size and speed, the CoreMP7 is a soft IP core
that runs at speeds up to 25 MHz. It's available for use in ARM-ready versions
of the company's ProASIC3 family of FPGAs, such as the M7A3P250, M7A3PE600 and
M7A3P1000.
Why is this IMPORTANT?
The Core MP7 is the industry's first soft ARM7 family
processor optimized for FPGAS. And, as a result of an agreement announced in
March 2005 with ARM, Actel can offer the 32-bit ARM7 family microprocessor for
use in its products free of license fees. This greatly reduces the cost of
entry and increases a designer's access to system on chip development with the
ARM7 family.
What Are the DESIGN
POSSIBILITIES?
Operating at up to 25MHz, CoreMP7 is well suited for use in
applications such as digital cameras, kitchen appliances, automotive traction
control systems, car infotainment systems, robotics and medical equipment.
How About Tool Support?
Tools that currently exist for the ARM7 family support
CoreMP7. A new tool called CoreConsole is part of a complete development
environment that includes Actel’s Libero IDE, a development kit and a host of
third-party tools. In addition, ARM's RealView development tools are available
from Actel.
Key FACTS:
CoreConsole Tool
1. It's an IP deployment platform with a graphical user
interface
2. RTL output can be either normal or obfuscated
3. CoreMP7 and other protected IP is output as a blackbox
4. Output includes system and IP test benches
PRICING and AVAILABILITY:
Implementation of CoreMP7 in Actel’s M7 ProASIC3 devices
starts as low as $2.75 each/250,000. The M7A3P250, M7A3PE600 and M7A3P1000
devices are sampling now. As for the tools, CoreConsole is available now for a
$395 annual license fee and the RealView development kit is available now for a
$1,195 annual license fee. The CoreMP7 development kit will be available in
January 2006.
On the WEB:
http://www.actel.com/products/ip/ARM7.html?p=eZone200507
