ARM has introduced a new microprocessor designed for embedded systems, offering improved features and power savings over previous-generation chips.
The ARM Cortex-M0+ is a 32-bit processor aimed at embedded systems, such as medical devices, automotive applications, sensors, microcontrollers and industrial applications, as well as providing logic and connectivity for consumer products and white goods.
Ericsson has predicted there could be over 50 billion connected devices online by 2020, realising a vision dubbed the “Internet of Things”.
Mike Inglis, EVP and GM, processor division, ARM, said: "We worked closely with our partners on the definition of the new processor to ensure that it can enable the low-cost devices of today, while also unlocking the potential benefits delivered by the 'Internet of Things'.”
Two of ARM's partners, Freescale and NXP Semiconductor, have licensed the chip design. Freescale will begin shipping its Kinetis L chips based on the Cortex-M0+ design in the second half of the year.
The primary advantage of the new chip is its power consumption, a key consideration in embedded systems. ARM claims the chip offers power consumption figures of 9uA/MHz - one-third that of comparative legacy 8- and 16-bit chips - and almost no consumption at all while in sleep mode.
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