True Circuits PLLs used by ARM in verification of Cortex-A9 MPU cores

LOS ALTOS, USA: True Circuits Inc. (TCI), a leading provider of analog and mixed-signal intellectual property (IP) for the semiconductor, systems and electronics industries announced that ARM is using clock generator PLL designs from TCI in a test chip for the ARM Cortex-A9 microprocessor core to validate it in TSMC’s 40nm general purpose process technology.

ARM will use these high-performance, silicon proven PLL hard macros to provide the reliable, high frequency and low-jitter clocks required for these advanced, scalable and high functionality applications processors.

“Over the last nine years, ARM has used a variety of high performance PLLs from True Circuits in test and development systems to showcase the performance and flexibility of our flagship processor products,” said Peter Hutton, VP Technology & Systems, Processor Division, ARM.

“We have now extended the list of processors to include the ARM Cortex-A family of applications processors, including the scalable Cortex-A9 hard core in TSMC’s 40nm G process. TCI’s wide range, low-jitter PLLs enable us to demonstrate the speed and functionality of ARM cores and enable our silicon and software partners to optimize and accelerate their own development on advanced Cortex-A platforms.”

“TCI is proud of our long standing IP partnership with ARM and we are pleased that ARM is using our PLLs for their flagship Cortex-A9 processor development in advanced process technologies,” said Stephen Maneatis, CEO of True Circuits.

“Over the past thirteen years, TCI has established itself as the technology leader in timing IP development and our high performance, feature rich PLLs provide real differentiation for ARM7, ARM9, ARM11 and Cortex-A processor implementations. By collaborating with ARM early in their development cycles, our mutual customers can have great confidence in the silicon realization of these cores. We are looking forward to supporting ARM and its Connected Community with silicon proven PLLs for Cortex-A hard and soft core SoC solutions that offer high performance, low risk and faster time to market.”