Altera nabs 32-bit MPU cores from Tensilica, ARC

Altera nabs 32-bit MPU cores from Tensilica, ARC
Altera Corp. (San Jose, Calif.) has added microprocessor cores from AMPP program partners Tensilica Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.) and ARC Cores Ltd. (London) to its stable of programmable-logic devices.

Altera and Tensilica announced at last month's Embedded Systems Conference that Tensilica's 32-bit Xtensa microprocessor core is now available for Altera's Apex20K family of PLDs. Beginning in the fourth quarter, the Apex-optimized core will be accessible through Tensilica's Web-based Xtensa processor generator, which allows designers to select the Apex architecture as the target silicon technology.

According to the companies, designers will be able to execute multiple design iterations without charge, making area, speed, power and code-density trade-offs based on real-time feedback from the generator. When the optimal configuration is determined, the designer will be able to license and download the Apex-tailored netlist, which is then ported to the Altera design environment and implemented on an Apex embedded PLD.

The Tensilica core, with the features-selection and test-drive options, will be available directly through www.tensilica.com. The license fee for use of the Xtensa intellectual property under the Altera AMPP program is $74,000 for a single-node, one-year royalty-free license.

Altera also announced with AMPP partner ARC Cores the availability of the ARC configurable 32-bit processor optimized for the Apex20K family-specifically, for the Apex EP20K400 PLD. In addition, the ARC 32-bit RISC microprocessor has been optimized for Altera's Flex 10K family and is supported by the ARCangel prototyping system.

According to the companies, designers can customize the 32-bit RISC microprocessor to their specific applications. When executed in the Apex20K PLD, the user-configured ARC processor can be integrated into system-on-chip designs to optimize performance and cost.

The core and related configuration tools may be licensed directly from ARC Cores in a package that includes hardware source code for the processor, a configuration manager with graphical interface, and a C/C++ tool chain, plus assembler, linker/locator, profiler, debugger and related software tools.

For information, contact ARC Cores at www.arccores.com.

---

On the heels of last month's announcement of a large product-sales agreement with NEC Corp., library vendor Artisan Components Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.) says it has been chosen by Infineon Technologies Corp. for its 0.17-micron embedded-DRAM process technologies.

Under terms of the contract, Infineon will also buy register file generators and custom I/Os to update and enhance previously purchased Artisan libraries for its 0.2- and 0.24-micron processes. The company said Artisan libraries will help enable Infineon customers to implement system-on-chip ICs. Library products for the 0.2- and 0.24-micron processes are available now. For more information, see www.artisan.com.