ARM Reference Methodologies

ARM continues to work closely with leading EDA companies to develop Implementation Reference Methodologies (iRMs) that enable ARM licensees to customize, implement, verify and characterize soft ARM processors for their chosen process technologies. The reference methodologies provide a predictable route to silicon, and a basis for custom methodology development, using both logical and physical synthesis technologies.

Beginning in June 2006, ARM can deploy processor iRMs that additionally contain ARM Artisan® front-end library views, and pre-compiled RAMs in support of a wide range of ARM processor products - please click on the link in the AppNotes column in the table below for processor-specific library information. This enhances the ability of the iRMs to demonstrate processor implementation flows and provides a far more complete reference solution than previously offered. The iRMs are free on request for those processors to which Partners have current contractual entitlements.

The table below lists the reference methodologies currently available, and those planned. Over time, new releases will be made to support new tools. Existing releases will also be extended to include support for new ARM processors and to accommodate tool modifications.

Current Availability -Please contact your ARM Partner Manager for further information, and to arrange a free release of the qualifying parts.

What are Reference Methodologies?

The ARM Reference Methodologies are designed to provide ARM Partners with a simple, deterministic and rapid route from RTL to GDSII. In working closely with each of the industry's leading EDA companies, we have been able to bring years of engineering experience to the problem of turning soft IP into IP hardened for a particular silicon process, and then modeling it so that it can be deployed as a library-level component in today's high-performance system chips.

The result is a set of methodologies that ARM licensees can be sure provide a sound platform for their own customizations and a flow that has been proven with today's leading tools and IP.

Since the Reference Methodology program is one of continuous improvement, licensees can be confident that their chosen methodology will always be the expression of best practices for ARM soft IP and EDA tools.

Related Pages

• ARM Artisan
• ARM-Cadence RM
• ARM-Magma RM
• ARM-Synopsys RM