ARM Expands ARM9 Family to Handheld Devices, NCs, Smart Phones and Windows CE; ARM910T and ARM920T Add Virtual Memory Support and Enhancements for Windows CE.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1998 -- ARM today announced the availability of the high-performance, low-power ARM920T and ARM910T cores with virtual memory support for handheld devices, network computers, smart phones and other processor-intensive applications.

In addition, the ARM920T incorporates new features and performance optimizations intended to enhance the performance of systems using the Microsoft Windows CE operating system.

"The ARM920T and ARM910T processors are optimized for high-integration designs that rely on feature-rich operating systems, like Windows CE," said Carl Schlachte, ARM's VP of North America. "The ARM9 Microprocessor Family is just another step on ARM's aggressive roadmap toward higher-end, higher-performance cores."

The ARM9 Family builds upon ARM's current technology offerings. Because the ARM9 Family is code-compatible with the highly popular ARM7 Family, designers now have an even broader choice of CPUs to suit designs that range from power-sensitive, high-performance applications to high-end, multiprocessing applications.

The ARM920T and ARM910T are cached processor macrocells built around the ARM9TDMI core, which integrates a Thumb code decompressor. The ARM9TDMI features a 5-stage pipeline and Harvard buses; the Thumb extension uses a compressed set of 16-bit instructions, which reduces memory use by a third. The ARM9TDMI and ARM940T, as the first members of the ARM9 Family, were announced in October 1997.

The ARM940T is targeted at embedded control applications which do not require virtual memory. All ARM9 Family members are process portable to 0.35micron, 0.25micron, and smaller geometries, and achieve 136 Dhrystone 2.1 VAX MIPS at 120MHz on 0.35micron. The ARM9 Family processors are capable of delivering up to 220 MIPS at 200MHz typical, while only consuming 0.5 Watts.

The high performance of the ARM9 Family allows functions previously performed by separate microcontrollers to be amalgamated onto one processor. This lowers total system costs by reducing component cost, pin count and removing the need to partition the design and provide for inter-MCU communication. The simpler system architecture allows more rapid development, and the use of a single software development environment for all code in the system.

Examples of this trend include soft modems running on the same processor as the main OS and applications in a handheld device, cellular communications protocol stacks sharing the processor with application code in a smart phone, and integration of previously disparate functions in set-top box designs.

ARM920T for Windows CE

The ARM920T integrates the superior performance of the ARM9TDMI core with the power efficiency features for which the ARM Architecture is known. The ARM920T has specific features and enhancements for the Windows CE operating system, making this an ideal solution for emerging Windows CE-based applications, such as HPCs, network computers, AutoPCs and sub-notebook computers.

"The announcement of the ARM920T -- which supports the Windows CE embedded operating system -- is applauded by Microsoft," said Harel Kodesh, general manager, consumer appliance group at Microsoft Corp. "With broad industry support from companies such as ARM, Windows CE can be deployed in many new targeted product categories supported by embedded systems. We believe the ARM920T will help continue to spur the adoption of Windows CE across the widest possible breadth of applications."

ARM910T for Handheld Devices and Internet Applications

The ARM910T has a full MMU enabling the use of such feature-rich operating systems as pSOS from ISI, VXWorks from Wind River and Psion Software's EPOC32. The virtual memory features provided by the MMU make it possible to safely use code downloaded from a network, such as the Internet, or from an independent developer. The ARM910T processor cores are ideal for handheld devices, smartphones and Internet TVs.

Availability

The ARM910T and ARM920T are available now for licensing, for delivery in 2H98. ARM9TDMI and ARM940T are also available for licensing. Silicon is available today from selected ARM silicon partners. All ARM9 Family processors are process portable, and implementations currently exist on 0.35micron and 0.25micron process technologies. Prices are based on partners' specific system-level design implementations. Specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

About ARM

ARM is a leader in microprocessor Intellectual Property. ARM designs and licenses fast, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals and "system-chip" solutions for embedded control, consumer/educational multimedia, DSP and portable applications. ARM supports its processor offerings with development hardware and software and contract design services. ARM licenses its technology to leading semiconductor, software and OEM partners worldwide who focus on applications, design and manufacturing.

Each partner offers unique ARM-related technologies and services which together satisfy a broad range of end-user needs. Through this partnering, ARM is rapidly becoming the global volume RISC standard. ARM has offices in Cambridge and Maidenhead, United Kingdom; Los Gatos, Calif.; Austin, Texas; Seattle; Munich, Germany; Tokyo; and Seoul, Korea. For more information, visit the ARM website at http://www.arm.com. -0-

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