Embedded World: Cortus announces processor IP roadmap for embedded SoC applications

The new cores share common technology with its APS3 core but address complementary market segments. The three new cores will be released over the coming six months. Michael Chapman, CEO at Cortus, said: "Although APS3 has been very successful in low power embedded applications such as SIM cards, Bluetooth LE, smart meters, encryption/decryption and touchscreen controllers, customers have been asking for a wider range of performance and complexity options. By mid 2012, Cortus will be able to supply microcontroller cores for applications ranging from high throughput floating point control systems down to programmable finite state machines as well as everything in between". The APS3 will be complemented by two new integer and one floating point processor cores. The APS5 is designed to support more complex processor subsystems requiring caches, coprocessors and multicore architectures. The FPS6 single precision floating point microcontroller core is said to combine high floating point throughput with a small silicon footprint and low power dissipation. For small microcontroller subsystems the Cortus will provide an entry level 32bit solution with the APS1 processor. According to Cortus, this core, with a comparable silicon footprint to existing 8bit cores such as 8051, will deliver greater computational performance and while dissipating much less power than 8bit cores. APS1, like other Cortus processors, has been designed to be programmed with C or C++ without the need to use assembly code. All cores share a common technology base with a modern risc architecture and native 32bit performance. They can all use the fast, low latency APS bus with Cortus peripherals. Cortus supplies a GNU based APS toolchain and an Eclipse-based IDE which supports the entire product family. Ports of FreeRTOS, OpenRTOS and Micrium uC/OSII are available for the processor product range. Cortus will be exhibiting on stand 5-143 at Embedded World 2012 in Nürnberg, Germany.