Synplicity, Inc. and ARM gets into marketing and collaboration agreement which includes a reference methodology for the recently launched ARM® Cortex^TM-M1 processor. As per the agreement Synplicity shall put processes in place to ensure that customers have a seamless design flow for Cortex- M1 processors. This alliance reference methodology for the Cortex-M1 processor includes capabilities for physical and logic synthesis design flows.

Synplicity, Inc. [Nasdaq:(SYNP),], and ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)] announced joint marketing and collaboration agreement which includes a reference methodology for the recently launched ARM® Cortex^TM-M1 processor - the ARM processor specifically designed for implementation in FPGA. They shall work together to support easy system integration of the Cortex-M1 processor using the Synplicity tool chain.  Under this alliance Synplicity, a member of the ARM Connected Community, shall put processes in place to ensure that customers have a seamless design flow for Cortex- M1 processors. Synplicity's R&D team shall use the Cortex-M1 processor as part of standard product validation procedures. Synplicity's corporate engineering also has access to the Cortex-M1 processor IP to provide mutual customer support.

Graham Budd, Executive VP and GM, Processor Division, ARM told that his organization's design team was keen to ensure the Cortex-M1 processor was optimized for multiple FPGA targets. Synplicity's vendor independent flow enabled them to achieve this with minimum overhead, ensuring that the processor could be implemented on the widest possible range of FPGA devices. Joe Gianelli , VP business development, Synplicity stated that the intent of their long-term partnership with ARM is to increase the awareness and provide optimal implementation of ARM processors for FPGA design.  

The ARM Cortex-M1 processor implements a subset of the popular, high-density Thumb®-2 instruction set which enables both the processor and software footprint to meet the area budget of the smallest FPGA devices, while retaining compatibility with Thumb code for any ARM processor from the ARM7TDMI® processor upwards. It is capable of more than 170 MHz, whilst occupying less than 15 percent area of popular low-cost FPGA devices. Despite being the smallest processor in the Cortex family, the Cortex-M1 processor can deliver 0.8 DMIPS/MHz. It is fully supported by the ARM RealView® Development Suite and RealView Microcontroller Development Kit.

The ARM-Synplicity reference methodology for the Cortex-M1 processor includes capabilities for physical and logic synthesis design flows. Synplicity's FPGA synthesis solutions help programmable logic designers rapidly achieve aggressive performance objectives.  It includes the Synplify software, Synplify Pro logic synthesis software and the Synplify Premier physical synthesis software.  The Synplify Pro software delivers the performance needed to meet a design's timing requirements and then optimizes the circuit for area, saving significantly on chip cost.  The Synplify Premier solution builds upon Synplicity's industry-leading synthesis technology and adds new graph-based physical synthesis and real-time, simulator-like visibility into operating FPGA devices. Graph-based physical synthesis provides rapid timing closure and a 5-20 percent timing improvement. The reference methodology is available now from both companies.

Related Items:

---

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.