ARM, TSMC Produced 20-nm Processor

Published:2011/10/20 3:20:00 Author:Amy From:SeekIC

The design of an A15 processor test chip has been completed, announced by processor IP licensor ARM and foundry TSMC recently. The device targets implementation in a 20-nm manufacturing process technology.

It is said that the companies moved the test chip design from RTL to "tape-out" in six months, adopting a design flow co-ordinated by TSMC. The companies did not say how long the design would take to be instantiated successfully in 20-nm silicon, nor did the companies indicate whether the design is single-core, without peripherals, or whether it is a full working multi-core processor.

ARM said it would improve its physical IP to the TSMC 20-nm process for power, performance, and area and produce a specification for a Cortex-A15 processor optimization pack (POP).

According to Mike Inglis, general manager of ARM’s processor division, these SOCs will be suitable for smartphones, tablet computers, digital home systems, servers, and wireless infrastructure, ARM said.

Separately Cadence Design Systems Inc (San Jose, Calif) stated that engineers that it employs also helped with the design and that it made use of a Cadence RTL-to-sign-off design flow that was the result of 18 months work between ARM and Cadence.

ARM uses Cadence tools in design, and the two companies are well working to optimize ARM processors.

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