AMI SEMICONDUCTOR LICENSES ARM MICROPROCESSOR CORES FOR ADVANCED FPGA-TO-ASIC DESIGNS.

ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], aprovider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, has announced two licensing agreements with AMI Semiconductor (AMIS), the industry's leading FPGA-to-ASIC conversion provider. AMIS has licensed the ARM7TDMI microprocessor core and the ARM922T microprocessor core to support conversion of high-density FPGAs to AMIS ASICs as well as ASIC designs that require mixed-signal capabilities with high-voltage I/Os. AMIS also signed a foundry license for the ARM7TDMI microprocessor core to support 0.35 micrometer designs.

By licensing the ARM7TDMI microprocessor core and the ARM922T microprocessor core, AMIS will be able to offer its customers the ability to translate ARM7TDMI core-based FPGA designs and ARM922T core-based FPGA designs to AMIS ASICs by using its highly developed FPGA-to-ASIC conversion capability. Customers of AMIS will now be able to work with the industry-leading 32-bit ARM microprocessor architecture directly through AMIS, enabling them to reduce design cycle times and design costs.

In addition to the FPGA-to-ASIC conversion facility, the foundry license allows AMIS to manufacture ARM7TDMI core-based designs on a 0.35 micrometer CMOS process. This will allow AMIS customers to extend existing product life spans without the concern of foundry partners migrating their processes to smaller geometries.

"With the growing customer demand to base their products on ARM cores, it is important that AMIS customers have access to the ARM architecture," said Reynette Au, vice president of corporate marketing for ARM. "This announcement offers customers valuable savings in both cost and time-to-market by enabling them to move their FPGA designs to ASICs quickly and effectively using AMIS technology."

"AMIS specializes in ASIC designs that require mixed-signal and high-voltage I/Os, such as communications infrastructure, computing applications, and industrial instrumentation and controllers. ARM's microprocessor cores are ideally suited to these end-applications, as they offer high-processing power with low-power consumption," said Glenn Fraser, AMIS vice president of marketing and business development.