Compact Processor for Security

Overview

Enhanced security is becoming essential as IoT devices find their way in to home automation and wearable applications. In addition to security, these applications demand low power consumption and high performance to handle compute intensive functions such as processing sensor data and wireless protocol stacks. The Andes Technology S8 processor is a new CPU core architecture based on the compute engine in the N8 core, but with added functionality to address security from hacking. The secure memory protection unit (MPU) at the center of the S8 strictly protects the execution and access according to multiple security levels. S8 also provides functions not found on competing 32-bit CPU core offerings: data and address scrambling and differential power analysis protection. The first defends against hacks that target the interface between CPU and memory. The second guards against hacking the program by observing the power use signature of the CPU.

Key Features

Secure MPU against memory tampering
Shields against side-channel attack
Secure debug for multi-party software development
Flexible configurations and run-time control

Benefits

Performance

16-/32-bit mixable instruction format for compacting code density
Low-latency vectored interrupt for real-time performance
Secure MPU & secure debugging support for code and data protection
Completion of most 32-bit operations in one cycle
Single-cycle capable for most Local Memory and AHB bus accesses
FlashFetch™ technology to accelerate internal parallel and/or external SPI flash memory

Flexibility

All-C Embedded Programming
Support boot-up from Instruction Local Memory
Processor state bus to simplify SoC design and debug

Power Management

Extensively clock-gated pipeline
Low power modes initiated by SW or SoC

Block Diagram

Applications

Smart card
Memory card
Health card
Access card
Passport
Driving license
Telephone card
Library card

Technical Specifications

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