Embedded control problems, Thumb, and the ARM7TDMI

Author

Segars, Simon ; Clarke, Keith ; Goudge, Liam

Author_Institution

Adv. RISC Machines, Cambridge, UK

Volume

15

Issue

5

fYear

1995

fDate

10/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

22

Lastpage

30

Abstract

High-end embedded control applications such as cellular phones, disk drives, and modems demand more performance from their controllers yet still require low costs. By implementing a second, compressed instruction set, our architectural innovation Thumb reduces RISC code size, providing 32-bit RISC performance at 8-/16-bit system cost. We describe the problems of embedded control, discuss the Thumb solution and its implementation, and explore typical application areas and competitive benchmarking

Keywords

computer architecture; computerised control; instruction sets; performance evaluation; real-time systems; reduced instruction set computing; 32-bit RISC performance; ARM7TDMI; RISC code size; Thumb; cellular phones; competitive benchmarking; compressed instruction set; disk drives; embedded control problems; high-end embedded control applications; modems; Batteries; Control systems; Costs; Energy consumption; Heat sinks; Macrocell networks; Microprocessors; Process control; Reduced instruction set computing; Thumb;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Micro, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1732

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/40.464580

Filename

464580