Microcontrollers
The diversity of microcontroller (MCU) applications presents unique technical challenges to developers, who must determine which MCU architecture best meets their performance needs and minimizes system cost with peripheral IP, software and debug tools that help to create a product family in minimum development time.
More complex systems are accelerating the transition to 32-bit MCUs with products integrating increased functionality over 8-bit and 16-bit, and using a wider range embedded peripherals, such as USB, LCD controllers and audio codecs.
MIPS® Solution
The diversity of MCU applications presents unique technical challenges to developers, who must determine which MCU architecture best meets their performance needs, minimizes system cost and provides peripheral IP, software and debug tools that help to create a product family in minimum development time.
MIPS Solutions - Processors
MIPS Technologies provides solutions for typical MCU applications including:
Industrial Control: motors, factory automation, tools, robotics, test equipment, networks
Office Automation: printers, plotters, copiers, hard disk drives
Home Appliances: white goods, home automation, security
Consumer Electronics: TVs, DVD players, digital cameras, personal media players
Security: Smart cards, SIM cards, mobile phones, biometrics
Automotive: convenience systems, safety, powertrain, infotainment
Entry-level MIPS32® 4K®-class processor cores are designed to address the challenges of 32-bit MCU system design, with features including:
- Performance efficiency: The synthesizable M4K™ and M14K™ processor cores are designed on the 4K micro-architecture with a 5-stage pipeline execution unit that is capable of providing performance efficiency of 1.5DMIPS/MHz. The M14K core achieves a maximum clock frequency of 190MHz @ 130nm and 329MHz @ 90nm.
- Code size reduction: Advanced code compression technology reduces instruction memory size, translating to reduced silicon and system memory cost. The M14K core incorporates microMIPS™, which combines 16- and 32-bit instructions in a single, unified Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) that is optimized for code size and performance. The M4K core optionally includes MIPS16e™, an Application Specific Extension (ASE) that adds 16-bit instructions to MIPS32 for code density and compact memory size.
- Real-time operation: MIPS solutions reduce interrupt latency, decrease context switching time and include deterministic SRAM-type memory interfaces.
- Improved flash-based code execution: The M14K core incorporates a pre-fetch buffer that accelerates code access from slow flash memory, reducing the Cycles per Instruction (CPI), and hence improving software execution performance.
- Low power consumption: Compact, low power processor cores include power management techniques on a fully static design.
- Debug: Extensive EJTAG-compatible debug and profiling capabilities include support for complex breakpoints, iFlowtrace™ enhanced trace, performance and program analysis features.
- Flexibility: A high degree of configurability and build-time options allow for design flexibility to develop an SoC that fits the exact requirements of the target application.
- Development support: MIPS Technologies provides an extensive, integrated hardware and software development environment for both MIPS32 and microMIPS based product designs, including the Eclipse-based Codesourcery Sourcery G++ GNU software toolchain, MIPS Navigator™ Integrated Component Suite (ICS), System Navigator debug probe and an FPGA-based hardware/software co-development platform. Additional support for RTOS, EDA/ESL, middleware and debug tools are available from the many third parties in the MIPS Ecosystem.
