PALMCHIP Introduces Fully-Integrated, Low-Power Controller Core for OEM Mass Storage Design; New ARM-based, hard disk controller architecture reduces time-to-market and system costs.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1997--PALMCHIP today introduced Greenlite, a fully integrated controller core designed for mass storage applications such as hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives and digital video disk (DVD) drives. This low-cost, low-power, high-performance controller removes the need for a digital signal processor (DSP), resulting in reduced time-to-market, component count and overall system costs for OEMs.

Typical disk drive controllers use two separate processors: a microcontroller for housekeeping tasks such as host interfacing and buffer management, and a DSP for servo control (drive head positioning). Greenlite is based around a high-performance, 32-bit RISC CPU architecture from Advanced RISC Machines (ARM(R)) which enables it to perform all these functions on a single processor.

In mass storage applications, servo control is often proprietary to each OEM. Greenlite uses gate arrays to help OEMs differentiate their products by allowing them to quickly implement their own servo technology with other off-the-shelf controller blocks. This approach offers time and cost savings - usually found with standard solutions; new disk controllers can now be prototyped in a few weeks instead of a few months.

Greenlite uses PALMCHIP's CoreFrame(TM) bus architecture, which provides a modular platform for the integration of the processor core, memory and other library function blocks. This eases CPU, logic and memory integration, thereby minimizing development time. Next-generation designs can be quickly implemented because new features can easily be added while the existing design's function blocks can be re-used in a plug-and-play fashion. PALMCHIP also provides a co-simulation environment and library of firmware routines for Greenlite, further reducing the product design cycle.

"Greenlite represents a significant leap forward in mass storage controller design and will result in the acceleration of product performance and time-to-market for our OEM customers," said Jauher Zaidi, PALMCHIP president and CEO. "Our ARM-based, single processor controllers and CoreFrame plug-and-play technology have made it possible for OEMs to easily add and reuse cores and function blocks to quickly implement new mass storage 'system chip' controllers."

Greenlite integrates an ARM7TDMI "Thumb(TM)" processor core, a memory access controller with glueless DRAM interfaces, 244-bit Reed Soloman error correction, a disk interface controller block with PRML support, a formatter, servo control and host interfaces.

The Greenlite controller core and its function blocks are available for licensing to semiconductor companies and mass storage OEMs. PALMCHIP's first semiconductor licensee of Greenlite is in production of initial silicon now. Samples will be available in May 1997. Initial OEM designs will go into full production over the next three months.

Based in San Jose, Calif., PALMCHIP develops embedded software and designs cores that reduce mass storage application design time and cost. PALMCHIP also offers expertise in ARM CPU core hardware and software integration as well as custom functional block design services. For more information on PALMCHIP, visit the website at http://www.PALMCHIP.com . -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: PALMCHIP, CoreFrame, Greenlite and the Palm Leaf Logo are trademarks of PALMCHIP Inc. ARM is a registered trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Limited. Thumb is a trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Limited.

CONTACT: PALMCHIP

Jauher Zaidi, 408/374-9058

Fax: [phone]

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