NXP and ARM Extend Strategic Licensing Agreement for Microcontrollers

NXP has shipped over one billion ARM processor-based solutions to date, and has a comprehensive portfolio of more than 250 microcontrollers based on ARM processors. Currently, NXP is the only ARM Partner with microcontrollers on the market based on the Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 processors. NXP is also the only major microcontroller vendor with a roadmap based exclusively on 32-bit ARM processors.

“With 100 million ARM processor-based microcontrollers shipped, NXP has reached a major milestone in our commitment to deliver the broadest range of choice available for customers migrating from 8/16-bit architectures to 32-bit ARM MCUs,” said Geoff Lees, vice president and general manager, microcontroller product line, NXP Semiconductors. “Looking ahead, this strategic licensing agreement gives us the ability to continue breaking new ground with ARM on the future of the 32-bit MCU landscape.”

This long term agreement is a major demonstration of support for the ARM Cortex-M series processors by one of the market’s leading MCU vendors,” said Mike Inglis, EVP and general manager, Processors Division, ARM. “NXP has an impressive record of innovation in MCUs, demonstrating the collaborative differentiation which is inherently enabled by the ARM business model. We look forward to working closely with NXP as it introduces even more innovative designs and enhancements for the MCU market.”

NXP’s portfolio of Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 series processor-based microcontrollers offers a wide range of unique features, peripherals and memory options. The LPC1100 series, based on the energy-efficient Cortex-M0 processor, features the industry’s lowest active power and a tiny footprint starting at 5mm2. Other NXP microcontrollers based on the Cortex-M0 processor include the LPC11C00 series with integrated CAN transceivers, as well as the recently announced LPC1200 Industrial Control series. NXP also offers the industry’s fastest Cortex-M3 processor-based microcontrollers, such as the highly popular LPC1700 series supported by the mbed rapid prototyping tool, as well as the 150MHz LPC1800 series. For the Cortex-M4 processor, NXP offers the ground-breaking LPC4000 asymmetrical dual-core digital signal controller (DSC), which has won industry accolades including the 2010 Best Electronic Design Award from Electronic Design in the US; the China ACE Awards 2011 Digital Product of the Year from Global Sources; and the 2010 Product of the Year Award from Electronic Products China and 21IC.