ARM996HS

The ARM996HSTM processor is the industry’s first licensable clockless processor and directly addresses the needs of design engineers for technology optimized for robust and real-time chip designs.  The compact, clockless ARM996HS processor is an ideal solution for automotive, medical and deeply embedded control applications because of its extremely low power consumption and low Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI). The ARM996HS processor utilizes Handshake Solutions’ technology, a production-proven methodology for implementing self-timed circuitry which has been used in hundreds of millions of chips for smart cards, advanced pagers, in-vehicle network transceivers, and cordless handsets.

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By leveraging this low EMI technology, the ARM996HS processor can address the market need for very low EMI to reduce packaging and shielding costs.  Additionally, the processor can be used in applications that require low current consumption and an extended battery life while maintaining real-time application responsiveness and a small footprint.

By removing the clock and associated architecture of standard ICs, clockless designs offer significant reductions in power consumption and EMI enabling designers to squeeze more functionality into limited power budgets. Handshake Solutions offers an extremely disciplined design methodology that delivers the unique benefits of clockless design within a commercially available design environment. The methodology is supported by easy-to-use and thoroughly field-tested tools, design services, and standard IP blocks from Handshake Solutions.

The new ARM996HS processor is optimized for use in both synchronous (clocked) and asynchronous (clockless) system-on-chip designs, enabling easy integration by ARM semiconductor Partners. Engineers can easily design in the new processor using standard cell libraries such as the ARM Metro^TM family for low power, and their existing EDA tools, for lower costs and shorter design cycles. The key benefits of the processor include low EMI, reducing the probability of interfering with sensitive circuitry; low current peaks, enabling easier integration with analog components; and low power consumption, reducing system power requirements. Because clockless processors consume zero dynamic power when there is no activity, they can significantly extend battery life.

Key features

• Clockless 32-bit RISC CPU core
• ARMv5TE architecture compliant
• 32-bit ARM and 16-bit Thumb® instruction sets
• Enhanced Memory Protection Unit (MPU)
• Non-maskable interrupt
• Hardware divide
• Dual AMBA® AHB-Lite^TM interface
• Fast 32-bit MAC
• Standard synchronous interfaces
• Supports tightly-coupled memories for instruction and data
• Scan test support

Key benefits

• Low power consumption (lowest-power ARM9E^TM processor implementation)
• Low current peaks
• Ultra low electromagnetic emission
• Small footprint
• Robust against current, voltage and temperature variations
• Easy system integration

Equivalent MHz is the speed in MHz needed by an ARM968E-S to achieve equivalent performance
For power simulations, ARM996HS running at 77 equiv. MHz (or 83.3 DMIPS) in nominal case conditions