Processor suits low-power applications

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 15, 2008

The Cortex-M3 processor is supported by the ARM Power Management Kit (PMK) and is optimised for low-power physical IP standard cell libraries and memories from the ARM Artisan physical IP family.

ARM has released a wake-up interrupt (WIC) controller which allows almost instantaneous return to fully active mode from an ultra-low leakage (ULL) retention state.

Enhanced power management features address the embedded market's need for increased performance and longer battery life in next-generation designs.

The Cortex-M3 processor is now also supported by the ARM Power Management Kit (PMK) and is tightly integrated with and optimised for, low-power physical IP standard cell libraries and memories from the ARM Artisan physical IP family.

Additional enhancements include the ability to integrate solutions for safety-critical and fault-robust applications in industrial, medical and automotive applications.

When used with low-power cells and standard cell libraries and memories, the integrated wake-up interrupt controller enables the core and the interrupt controller to be placed in an ultra-low leakage retention mode, returning to fully active mode almost instantaneously after critical events.

By combining the ARM PMK, memories and standard cell libraries with the Cortex-M3 processor, users can gain significant time to market savings when targeting ultra-low leakage manufacturing processes for major power-saving benefits with very low area impact.

The Physical IP memories feature byte-write capability and allow multiple power-down (with retention) modes when coupled to the PMK.

The latest release of the Cortex-M3 processor includes significantly extended configurability of debug and trace capabilities to enable the creation of extremely cost-sensitive, high-volume 32bit devices such as electronic toys and consumer electronics systems.

It also offers an improved operating frequency for highest performance embedded applications.

It provides enhanced signaling to power management controllers.