November 2009 - MIPS Technologies introduced a new core family providing the highest levels of system performance for extremely cost-sensitive embedded applications such as 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), home entertainment, personal entertainment and home networking. The new MIPS32® M14K(TM) and M14Kc(TM) cores are the first MIPS32-compatible cores that also execute the new microMIPS(TM) instruction set architecture (ISA), achieving high performance of
1.5 DMIPS/MHz with an advanced level of code compression. The microMIPS ISA maintains 98% of MIPS32 performance while reducing code size by 35%, translating to significant silicon cost savings. This is very similar to the 32/16 - bit instruction set used in the ARM Cortex-M3 family.

Art Swift, MIPS Technologies said, "Growing amounts of signal processing and higher speed connectivity are driving up the performance requirements in MCUs and many cost-sensitive embedded applications, while still requiring a very small silicon footprint. We're enabling our customers to develop high-performance devices in smaller form factors to significantly decrease development costs. We're pleased to enhance and expand our offering for MCU and system designers with these groundbreaking new cores." With small silicon footprint, he is talking about packing the same amount of functionality with hardly any performance loss into 35% less memory. As this core is targeted at MCU applications, the new instruction set provides similar functionality using 384 KB compared to 512KB Flash with the original M4K core.

The M14K Core for Microcontrollers

With a target frequency of 180 MHz using a 130 nm process, the M14K core combines can offer higher performance than currently available Cortex-M solutions. The M14K core offers advanced features that are optimized for MCU and real-time embedded applications, including reduced interrupt latency, flash acceleration, advanced debug features including iFlowTrace(TM) and support for AHB Lite as the interconnect interface. Designed on the MIPS32 4K® micro-architecture that is already proven in hundreds of millions of SoCs, the M14K core is highly configurable and extendable, offering a wide range of implementation options to minimize cost and maximize re-usability.

"Microchip is delighted to see continued innovation and commitment from MIPS Technologies in the 32-bit MCU market. The new M14K and M14Kc cores, and the microMIPS ISA offer enhancements important to MCU users, including even faster interrupt latency and smaller code size," said Sumit Mitra, vice president, High Performance Microcontroller Division, Microchip Technology. "Microchip is pleased with the enthusiastic acceptance of its MIPS-based PIC32 MCU family offering best-in-class performance. As with our 8-bit and 16-bit microcontroller businesses, Microchip is committed to a long term roadmap with our MIPS-based 32-bit MCU products."

The M14Kc Core for High Performance, Low Footprint Applications

The M14Kc core builds on the base M14K core with additional features for embedded applications such as home entertainment, home networking and personal mobile entertainment. These applications require a compact footprint but also the ability to execute increasingly complex software algorithms on an RTOS or Linux. Based on the popular MIPS32 4KEc(TM) micro-architecture, which provides a powerful Linux and Java engine and superior performance for the Android platform, the M14Kc core has a full cache controller and translation lookaside buffer (TLB) memory management unit (MMU).

microMIPS ISA for Advanced Code Compression

At the heart of the M14K and M14Kc cores is the new microMIPS ISA that offers 32-bit performance with 16-bit code size for most instructions. The microMIPS ISA combines recoded and new 16- and 32-bit instructions to achieve an ideal balance of performance and code density. It incorporates all MIPS32 instructions and Application Specific Extensions (ASEs) including MIPS-3D® ASE, MIPS DSP ASE, MIPS MT ASE and SmartMIPS® ASE, as well as new instructions for advanced code size reduction. The microMIPS ISA is backward compatible, enabling reuse of optimized MIPS micro-architecture. With smaller memory accesses and efficient use of the instruction cache, the microMIPS ISA also helps to reduce system power consumption.

Ecosystem and Tool Support

MIPS Technologies is providing complete software development tool support for the new M14K and M14Kc cores, with the Eclipse-based MIPS Navigator(TM) Integrated Component Suite (ICS) and System NavigatorTM probes for debugging. MIPS Technologies is also working with leading third party software vendors for broad tool and OS support.

"The new MIPS32 M14K and M14Kc cores and microMIPS ISA provide the ultimate platforms to leverage the low power and high performance characteristics of the Nucleus OS," said Glenn Perry, general manager of the Embedded Systems Division of Mentor Graphics. "Combining cores like the M14Kc with Mentor's multiOS solutions for Linux, Android and Nucleus will enable our mutual customers to develop innovative multi-OS solutions with world-class support and performance quality from Mentor Graphics."

"Micrium currently provides embedded software support for the MIPS32 architecture with our small-footprint µC/OS-II RTOS," said Christian Legare, Micrium vice president. "Micrium is known for saving precious design time, resulting in a substantial cost advantage for such embedded applications as industrial, medical and automotive. With its M14K core, MIPS Technologies offers a unique value proposition for developers in these markets. Micrium recognizes the benefits and importance of porting to the M14K core."

Availability

The new M14K and M14Kc cores will be available in the first quarter of 2010. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.mips.com/microcontrollers.

MIPS, MIPS32, MIPS64, iFlowTrace, microMIPS, M14K, M14Kc, 4K, 4KEc, SmartMIPS, MIPS-3D and MIPS-Based are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and other countries of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners