ARM 32-bit FPGA Optimized Processor

Developed by ARM in collaboration with Actel, the 32-bit ARM Cortex-M1 processor is the first ARM processor designed for FPGA implementation. With a balance between size and speed, the free Cortex-M1 processor operates at up to 72 MHz and can be implemented in as few as 4,300 tiles. A streamlined three-stage solution, the Cortex-M1 processor runs a subset of the classic Thumb®-2 instruction set so existing Thumb code can be utilized without change. The configurable Cortex-M1 processor connects to the Advanced High Performance Bus (AHB), enabling designers to build their subsystem and easily add peripheral functionality. In addition to Libero IDE Catalog, SmartDesign, and SoftConsole from Actel and RealView tools from ARM, third-party vendors will offer supporting tools—from compilers and debuggers to RTOS solutions.