ARM technology licensed by Atmel

23rd July 2014

ARM Ltd

Nat Bowers

0 0

For devices requiring image, video and display capabilities, Atmel has licensed processor and security IP from ARM. Atmel plans to integrate the Cortex-A7 processor, Mali-V500 video accelerator, Mali-DP500 display processor and TrustZone technology into silicon for wearable devices and automated factory tasks which are reliant on image processing, such as identifying faulty products.

The energy efficiency and small die area ARM Mali-V500 and Mali-DP500 enable full HD 1080p 60fps resolution capabilities on a single core suited for cost-conscious applications. The video accelerator and display processor also feature support ARM TrustZone technology for hardware-backed content security. The Mali-DP500 display processor enables Atmel SoCs to deliver UI functionality such as multi-layer composition, scaling and post-processing with support from ARM’s Frame Buffer Compression (AFBC) protocol. Unique to ARM, this technology can deliver a 60% reduction in system bandwidth for video playback.

Pete Hutton, Executive Vice President and President, Product Groups, ARM, comments: “Atmel and ARM have a successful history of collaboration. That partnership continues to build with Atmel now expanding its ARM IP portfolio to include even stronger security and richer media processing technology that prepares the way for new and exciting products in emerging markets such as IoT, wearables and factory automation.”

“As IoT and wearable devices become smaller, more sophisticated and integrated, the SoCs used in the devices will need to offer more features and functionality in smaller packages,” adds Reza Kazerounian, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Microcontroller Business Unit, Atmel. “The small area footprint of the ARM Cortex and Mali multimedia solutions will allow us to offer HD video and display processing in unprecedented sizes.”