XMOS adds Cortex-M3 core, looks to attract ARM users
1 min read
XMOS has collaborated with Silicon Laboratories to create xCORE-XA, a range of devices that combine the company's configurable multicore microcontroller technology with a ARM Cortex-M3 processor. The result is said to help in the creation of the next wave of programmable SoCs.
"The xCORE-XA architecture redefines what embedded developers can achieve using a programmable platform," claimed Nigel Toon, XMOS' ceo. "Adding the world's most energy-friendly ARM Cortex-M3 technology from Silicon Labs as part of the xCORE-XA products allows customers to include ARM binary code and to create unique end products with the lowest energy consumption."
The first device in the new family, the XA-U8-1024, features eight 32bit processors – seven xCORE logical cores plus an ARM Cortex-M3 processor – as well as 192kbyte of sram and 1Mbyte of flash. The device also features a USB interface, low energy peripherals and analogue functions such as a/d and d/a converters, op amps and capacitive sensing comparators. Future family members will include six and eight core products with flash sizes ranging from 512kbyte to 1Mbyte.
"We have been working closely with XMOS over the last 12months to help bring this new class of product to market," said Geir Forre, general manager of Silicon Labs' microcontroller products. "It is exciting to see our Gecko mcu technology being used in a leading multicore microcontroller architecture that delivers such flexibility."
According to XMOS, the xCORE-XA architecture needs less than 1µA to run the integrated real time clock and 32kHz peripherals. In power down mode, it will draw less than 100nA.
