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Overview

 

With nearly a quarter of all electronic devices sold in 2007 embedding an ARM processor, the ARM processors represent a core building block in many designs. For IC designers embarking on an ARM design, however, significant challenges must be overcome to avoid lengthy development times or products that fall short of performance expectations.  Beyond the obvious starting point of selecting the right ARM processor, a number of other crucial decisions required for success include: system architecture definition, peripheral sourcing and selection, low power considerations, software design, and verification methodology. The ARM BASEsoc family of platforms address these challenges and provide a pre-verified, optimized system that significantly reduces IC development time and risk. 

 

The BASEsoc family of platforms for ARM is the result of Accent’s world class experience on ARM technology including numerous completed ARM based SoC projects spanning from architecture definition to software development to tape-out to shipment of tested parts in volumes.  Recognizing the importance of addressing the needs of  ARM-based IC customers, Accent has made large investments, which includes a multi year, unrestricted license to offer ARM cores and Primecells, to develop its BASEsoc family of platforms for ARM.

 

Product Highlights

  • Modular, expandable ARM-based architecture
    • Supports ARM7, ARM9, ARM11 and Cortex processor cores
    • Industry-standard AMBA bus architecture
  • Ultra-low power design with independent power islands
  • Easy to customize for performance and integration of customer IP
  • Fully-validated, silicon proven platform implemented in numerous designs and process technologies
  • Pre-optimized suite of software including system drivers

Product Benefits

  • Guaranteed performance and functionality for low-risk, fast development
  • One-stop-shop for hardware and software IP dramatically reducing procurement effort
  • Leading-class low power performance for extended battery life
  • Full flexibility supporting full range of potential customer differentiation

 

 

Optimal Starting Point

 

Accent's BASEsoc Platforms for ARM have been developed over a number of years and proven in silicon over a variety of low power applications. Accent’s modular approach enables maximum reuse as well as easy tailoring to incorporate additional functionality.  The BASEsoc Platform family for ARM incorporate leading-edge low power techniques, such as configurable independent power islands and multiple power management modes, to meet the needs of the most energy stringent applications.

 

A minimal ARM BASEsoc Platform

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Product Features

 

Product Features

 

Easy Expandability

 

The BASEsoc Platforms for ARM provide a turnkey vehicle that can be easily customized in numerous ways.  In addition to integrating additional system peripheral blocks and processing units, the platforms can easily be tuned for power and performance. 

 

Accent has proven this over the years having implemented the BASEsoc Platforms for ARM in multiple customer designs for a wide range of applications.  The key to this success has been the end-to-end modular approach that encompasses architecture partitioning to verification strategy to system prototyping tools. 

 

Thus, instead of starting from scratch for each system change, the BASEsoc Platforms for ARM accommodate a wide range of modifications easily and with the lowest risk. 

 

Past Accent ARM BASEsoc Platform Implementation Examples.

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Additional Customization

 

ARM

For complex customization, Accent DesignPLUS is equipped to tackle the most challenging designs.  Accent is a recognized center of excellence for ARM based SoC modeling, integration and validation methodologies, having successfully completed numerous projects and certified numerous of IP cores.  Our customers also gain the advantage of our broad system architecture deep experience in areas such as:

 

  • General purpose microprocessors (ARM, ARC, MIPS and x86), and DSP
  • AMBA based and PC related busses (PCI, ISA)
  • High speed serial interfaces (PCMCIA, USB OTG, Fast Ethernet)
  • Specialized modules (baseband processors, audio/video acceleration engines)
  • Memories and memory interfaces (RAM, ROM, FLASH, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM)
  • Sensor interfaces
  • Analog blocks (Power Regulators, D/A, A/D, PLL, etc)

 

Accent also provides Embedded Software Design Services to accelerate our customer designs to market.  Example services include: driver definition and implementation, OS porting, and system bring-up.