Triad Semiconductor announces world'’s first configurable ARM Cortex-M0 mixed-signal ASIC solution

WINSTON-SALEM, USA: Triad Semiconductor Inc., a leading supplier of via-configurable mixed-signal ASICs, announced the first system-on-chip (SoC) to integrate the world-class ARM Cortex-M0 with the via-configurable analog and digital functions needed to rapidly and inexpensively deliver embedded mixed-signal solutions.

Triad'’s Mocha-1 array provides access to world-class ARM 32-bit processing performance combined with Triad’s silicon-proven via-configurable array (VCA) technology, allowing electronic system designers to customize analog and digital features with lower power consumption and greater system cost savings than last-generation ASIC solutions.

Embedded processors are everywhere, from toothbrushes to automobiles. The processing requirements for these microprocessors continue to increase along with the need for enhanced, customized analog and digital features. The Mocha-1 platform enables integration of complete mixed-signal SoCs by combining the industry-standard Cortex-M0 processor, backed by the ARM development ecosystem, with Triad’'s VCA technology. Developers are able to integrate entire existing discrete PC board-level designs into the Mocha-1 platform.

Triad'’s VCA technology combines silicon-proven analog, digital, memory and microprocessor resources on a single ASIC die. These resources are overlaid with a global routing fabric. Unique to Triad'’s approach, all of the resources on a VCA are configured by placing vias within the global routing fabric.

Vias are placed on the VCA using Triad’s advanced, analog-aware, via-only automatic place-and-route software, which configures and interconnects the entire VCA without the need for full-custom manual layout. This approach shortens time to prototypes and time to market, reduces development and tooling costs, and accelerates the design process by enabling the reuse of proven mixed-signal IP blocks.

“The Mocha-1 platform is the first and only method to combine ARM processing with configurable analog and digital,” said Jim Kemerling, vice president and CTO of Triad Semiconductor. “It is ideal for any applications that require 32-bit performance in an 8-bit or 16-bit footprint with ultra-low power consumption. Our single-mask VCA technology provides safe, rapid prototyping and production at low cost.”

Triad’'s Mocha-1 integrates a Cortex-M0 32-bit processor running at 25MHz with 32Kbytes of EEPROM memory, 24Kbytes of SRAM, 75,000 gates of user configurable logic, and a wide selection of analog resources including op-amps, DACs, ADCs, resistors, capacitors, transistors and switches. Combining the Cortex-M0 with these configurable analog and digital resources allows Mocha-1 to realize a wide range of single-chip, mixed-signal SoC solutions for industrial, medical, sensor, Bluetooth low energy, and military/aerospace applications.

Mocha-1 provides configurable ASIC solutions unique to each customer. Price is a function of package and production volume, ranging from US $7.00 to $15.00 per ASIC, with customer-optimized solutions available for under $2.00 in high volume applications. Triad is now accepting customer designs for the Mocha-1 array, with silicon being delivered in Q1.