Microprocessors and DSPs XMOS adds ARM Cortex-M3 to fast processor array

Microprocessors and DSPs XMOS adds ARM Cortex-M3 to fast processor array

2013/10/24

XMOS has created a processor with 100nA sleep that can throttle up to 500Mips in milliseconds by adding an ARM Cortex-M3 to one of its multi-core processors.

The firm’s intellectual property covers an unusual form of processor – small high-speed deterministic 32bit RISC cores (xCores) that respond to external events quickly without the use of interrupts. They are always sold as multi-core chips, and the cores execute high-level code concurrently. Peripherals and interfaces do not exist as hard logic, but are configured from cores – for which suitable ‘xSOFTip’ code is available.

“It allows customers to software-configure the exact combination of peripherals and interfaces required for their designs, and enables the most demanding hard real-time requirements with timing-precise execution,” claimed XMOS.

Rather than go straight to ARM for its M3, XMOS sought out Energy Micro (now owned by Silicon Labs), a firm that has built a reputation, with its Gecko microcontrollers, for ultra-low power peripherals that can be set-up to communicate while the ARM core sleeps. With several low-power modes, Geckos are optimised for sleep – wake – process fast – sleep operation.

xCores are designed for low sleep current and high active processing capacity.

By combining the two, XMOS has created a product, dubbed xCore-XA, which shares Energy’s wake-process-sleep philosophy, but on steroids. It is expecting use in battery-powered applications that infrequently require a lot of instant processing.

There are two ways of looking as the device. From a power mode point of view, its seven xCores look like a out-sized co-processor on the Energy Micro/ARM microcontroller (see mode table below).

To the usual 50Mips (10mA) full-speed mode of the ARM core, it adds the 500Mips (50mA) performance mode.

From the programmers point of view, the ARM core replaces one core in a standard eight-core XMOS device and is connected to the seven xCores by the firm’s standard ‘xConnnect’ switch (see block diagram).

“The new architecture allows embedded system designers to use high-level software to configure a device with the exact set of interfaces and peripherals needed for their design, while at the same time re-using existing ARM binary code and taking advantage of ultra-low energy peripherals,” said XMOS. “Designers can also add real-time data-plane plus control processing and DSP blocks, using multiple xCORE processor cores, with the ARM available to run larger control plane processing software such as communication protocol stacks, standard graphics libraries, or complex monitoring systems.”

In the device is 64kbyte of RAM for the xCores and 128kbyte of RAM for the ARM core. The ARM memory is available to the xCores, but not vice versa. There is also 512kbyte (or 1Mbyte) of flash.

Inside the device are two chips, one a 65nm xCore chip and one one a more analogue-friendly geometry for the ARM core, its peripherals, and the flash. No one is saying how they have been customised, or what else has been done to integrate them so closely.

“The ARM is directly-connected to the xConnect switch,” is all XMOS CEO Nigel Toon would say.

The deal to use Energy Micro intellectual property was set-up between XMOS and Energy CEO Geir Førre.

“We sat down with Geir Førre and worked it out. There is no overlap, they are focussing on single-core,” said XMOS’ Toon. Then “Part way along, Energy Micro got aquired by Silicon Labs.”

It turned out that Silicon Labs, where Førre is now general manager of microcontroller business, accepted the deal.

“We sell the [xCore-XA] chips. Silicon Labs is not selling them. Revenue, we share with Silicon Labs,” said Toon.

ARM has put its stamp of approval on the devices.

“ARM believes that xCore-XA represents a significant step forward for embedded systems, allowing engineers to create an integrated SoC that is configured completely in high level software. XMOS is the leader for this category of configurable multi-core microcontrollers and Silicon Labs produces outstanding low-energy ARM Cortex-M3 technology. By combining these two solutions, XMOS has created a new category of low energy, programmable SoC products,” said Nandan Nayampally, v-p of marketing at ARM.

The first device in the family, the XA-U8-1024, has eight 32bit processors (seven xCore logical cores plus an ARM Cortex-M3 processor), 192kbyte SRAM, and 1Mbyte flash. It includes a USB interface, ADC, DAC, op-amps and capacitive sensing comparators.

Future family members will have six or eight cores, 512k or 1Mbyte flash, with or without USB.

XMOS’ tool suite now includes design entry, compilation and debug support for both the ARM and multiple xCore cores.

Modes

Shut-down: 100nAtyp, 160us wake on GPIO or reset

Deep-sleep: 1uAtyp, 2us wake on RTC or peripherals

Processor-sleep: 50uAtyp, peripherals operate autonomously

Low-power: 10mAtyp, 50Mips

Performance: 50mAtyp*, xCores engaged for 500MIPs

* Assumes 3.3V source supply and dc-dc conversion loss

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