The ARM Cortex-M1 Processor Enables OEMs to Reduce Development Costs
Through Standardization on a Single Architecture Across FPGA, ASIC and ASSP

    CAMBRIDGE, England, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ARM [(LSE:ARM);
(Nasdaq: ARMHY)] today announced the availability of the ARM(R)
Cortex(TM)-M1 processor - the first ARM processor designed specifically for
implementation on FPGAs. The ARM Cortex-M1 processor extends the range of
the ARM Cortex processor family and enables OEMs to standardize around a
common architecture across the performance spectrum. Actel has worked with
ARM as lead Partner and is the first licensee of the Cortex-M1 processor
for use by their FPGA customers.
    ARM and Actel will both be demonstrating the Cortex-M1 processor at the
Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Calif., April 2-5.
    The Cortex-M1 processor enables OEMs to achieve significant cost
savings through rationalization of software and tools investments across
multiple projects spanning FPGA, ASIC and ASSP, plus greater vendor
independence through use of an industry-standard processor. The Cortex-M1
processor is supported by leading FPGA synthesis vendors, software
development tools, and real-time operating systems, giving FPGA designers
unprecedented choice and flexibility.
    "Gartner Dataquest maintains that FPGAs/PLDs have a very bright
future," said Bryan Lewis, research vice president, Gartner Dataquest. "We
expect solid growth (15.7 percent) to resume in 2008 and forecast the
FPGA/PLD market to outperform semiconductors from 2008 onward."(1)
    "The Cortex-M1 processor extends the reach of the ARM architecture in
the FPGA domain, and advances our goal of providing processor solutions for
the entire digital world," said Graham Budd, EVP and general manager,
Processor Division, ARM. "By leveraging ARM's vast installed user base in
the ASIC/ASSP and microcontroller markets, along with support from our own
RealView(R) family of tools as well as product support from the ARM
Connected Community, the Cortex-M1 processor will deliver significant
savings to OEMs in terms of software development resources, tools, and
training."
    Actel has licensed the Cortex-M1 processor and will make it available
at no additional cost to their customers. The FPGA-optimized Cortex-M1
processor offers users of Actel's flash-based M1-enabled Actel Fusion
Programmable System Chips and ProASIC3 FPGAs a compact and efficient
processor satisfying the requirements of a wide range of end applications.
Actel will support the Cortex-M1 processor with its CoreConsole IP
Deployment Platform, its SoftConsole program development environment and
Actel Libero Integrated Design Environment - all available for free
download from Actel's website.
    "Following the success of our ARM7(TM) family-based solutions, Actel
worked closely with ARM to optimize its Cortex-M1 processor for FPGA
implementation from the ground up, making it an extremely valuable addition
to our growing processor library," said Rich Brossart, vice president,
product marketing, Actel. "Free of the contract negotiations and fees
typically associated with industry-standard processor cores, Actel will
make the Cortex-M1 processor available to those companies who desire highly
programmable solutions regardless of application or volume."
    Tools and Peripherals Support
    The Cortex-M1 processor will be fully supported by forthcoming releases
of the ARM RealView(R) Development Suite and RealView Microcontroller
Development Kit. The RealView Development Suite will include a complete
instruction set system model (ISSM) allowing developers to create and test
applications for the Cortex-M1 processor out of the box. Developers can
easily customize the RealView Development Suite's debugger to visualize and
interact with peripherals added around a Cortex-M1 processor, and will also
be able to connect and debug applications running on Cortex-M1 silicon
using ARM's high-performance RealView ICE and ULINK(R)2 run control units.
    System performance and design turn around time are boosted further with
ARM AMBA(R) compliant PrimeCell(R) peripheral IP, including ARM's latest
ultra-efficient microDMA (PL230).
    ARM Connected Community Partners, including CodeSourcery, Express
Logic, IAR Systems, Mentor Graphics Inc., Micrium and Synplicity will all
support the Cortex-M1 processor. For improved flow integration, the
Cortex-M1 processor deliverables will include an IP description conforming
to the IP-XACT standard from The SPIRIT Consortium.
    Low area, high frequency and ease of use
    The ARM Cortex-M1 processor is a streamlined three-stage 32-bit RISC
processor that implements a subset of the popular, high density Thumb(R)-2
instruction set. This 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(R)
processor upwards. The Cortex-M1 processor 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. Typical applications for the
Cortex-M1 processor on FPGAs include embedded control, communications,
networking and aerospace.
    More information on ARM solutions in FPGA is available from
http://www.arm.com/fpga.
    Availability
    Free of license and royalty fees, Actel's implementation of the
Cortex-M1 processor will be available for early access in April via the
Actel website http://www.actel.com. The M1-enabled ProASIC3 and Actel Fusion PSC
devices will sample in Q3 2007.
    The ARM Cortex-M1 processor RTL and associated EDA views optimized for
a range of FPGA vendor devices including Actel, Altera, Lattice and Xilinx
will be available for license by OEMs in 2Q'07.
    About the ARM Cortex Family of Processors
    The three series in the ARM Cortex family enable chip manufacturers and
OEMs to standardize around a single architecture from low-end
microcontrollers to high-performance applications processors. Featuring
Thumb-2 technology, the ARM Cortex family significantly reduces development
costs and increases enterprise efficiency.
    - ARM Cortex-A Series: Applications processors for complex OS and user
applications - ARM Cortex-R Series: Embedded processors for real-time
systems - ARM Cortex-M Series: Deeply embedded processors optimized for
microcontroller and low-cost applications
    About ARM
    ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital
products, from mobile, home and enterprise solutions to embedded and
emerging applications. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes
16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, graphics processors, digital
libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools,
as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined
with the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system
solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading
electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at
http://www.arm.com.
    About the ARM Connected Community
    The ARM Connected Community is a global network of companies aligned to
provide a complete solution, from design to manufacture and end use, for
products based on the ARM architecture. ARM offers a variety of resources
to Community members, including promotional programs and peer-networking
opportunities that enable a variety of ARM Partners to come together to
provide end-to-end customer solutions. For more information, please visit
http://www.arm.com/community.
    1. Gartner, Inc., "Forecast: ASIC/ASSP, FPGA/PLD and SLI/SOC
Applications, Worldwide, 2002-2010 (4Q06 Update)", by John Barber and Bryan
Lewis, December 4, 2006.
    ARM, Thumb, RealView, PrimeCell and ARM7TDMI are registered trademarks
of ARM Limited. Cortex and ARM7 are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other
brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM"
is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited;
and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan;
ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS
Design Automation Inc.; AXYS GmbH; ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; and
ARM Physical IP, Inc.; and ARM Norway AS.
    The following ARM Connected Community members welcome the introduction
of the Cortex-M1 processor:
    "ARM and CodeSourcery have worked in partnership to provide full
support for the Cortex-M1 processor in the GNU toolchain, said Mark
Mitchell, chief sourcerer, CodeSourcery. "The combination of a
cost-effective FPGA-based ARM processor and CodeSourcery's quality
open-source tools solution will be compelling for system designers."
    "The arrival of Cortex-M1 processor will open up the ARM architecture
to FPGA users," said William Lamie, CEO, Express Logic. "The ThreadX RTOS
powers more than 450 million units worldwide and we have worked closely
with ARM during development of the Cortex-M1 processor to ensure that
ThreadX users have a smooth migration path to this exciting new processor
technology."
    "We welcome the addition of the Cortex-M1 processor to the Cortex
family of processors from ARM," said Mats Ullstrom, product director, IAR
Systems. "IAR's Embedded Workbench for ARM has long supported ARM
technology-based microcontrollers, combining advanced optimizations with an
intelligent workflow, and we are pleased to continue the relationship with
ARM, by adding support for the Cortex-M1 processor."
    "Mentor Graphics' long-term strategic relationship with ARM has enabled
us to support the launch of the Cortex-M1 processor with several
plug-and-play design solutions, including design assembly, embedded
software toolsets, and most recently Precision Synthesis for FPGA devices,"
said Simon Bloch, general manager, Design Creation and Synthesis Division,
Mentor Graphics. "With these vendor-independent offerings from Mentor,
designers are free to select any FPGA device to implement their designs
based on the ARM Cortex-M1 processor."
    "Micrium's uC/OS-II RTOS was the first RTOS to support the ARM
Cortex-M3 processor," said Jean Labrosse, president and CEO, Micrium. "The
Cortex-M1 processor provides FPGA users with access to the power of the ARM
architecture running the royalty-free, highly reliable and robust uC/OS-II
RTOS."
    "The Cortex-M1 processor benefits from the broad software development
environment, operating systems and applications available for the ARM
Cortex family of intelligent processors. We believe this new solution will
provide a powerful alternative architecture for today's FPGA designers,"
said Andy Haines, sr. VP of marketing at Synplicity. "ARM and Synplicity
have worked closely together since the inception of the Cortex-M1 processor
to ensure that Synplicity's broad range of FPGA implementation products
will provide the best possible results for designers using the new
processor."

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