Imagination, TSMC collaborate on advanced IoT IP
According to studies, it costs 2x to 3x more to design a 16-nm FinFET-based chip versus a 28-nm chip, whether it is wearable, mobile, IoT, or automotive. The collaboration between Imagination and TSMC brings into play a family of subsystems designed to reduce costs and accelerate time to market.
The IoT IP subsystems in development include small, highly-integrated connected solutions for simple sensors which combine an entry-level M-class MIPS CPU with an ultra-low power Ensigma Whisper RPU for low-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Smart and 6LowPan, as well as OmniShield multi-domain hardware enforced security, and on-chip RAM and flash. The advanced RF and embedded flash capabilities from TSMC enable Imagination to push the boundaries of IoT integration.
At the higher end, highly-integrated and sophisticated audio and vision sensors will be a key component of future mutual customers’ SoCs for a wide range of IoT applications such as smart surveillance, retail analytics and autonomous vehicles. As part of the collaboration, Imagination and TSMC are working together to realize reference IP subsystems that bring together Imagination’s PowerVR multimedia IP, MIPS CPUs, Ensigma RPUs and OmniShield technology to create highly-integrated, highly-intelligent connected audio and vision sensor IP platforms. These IP subsystems will leverage advanced features such as GPU compute, power-managed CPU clusters and on-chip high-bandwidth communications, demonstrating that high-performance local processing and connectivity can be integrated efficiently and cost-effectively.
Imagination’s IP families include:
- OmniShield-enabled PowerVR multimedia IP, which continues to extend its leadership in both GPU and video decode/encode, complemented by innovative camera imaging processors;
- OmniShield-enabled MIPS CPUs, which power billions of products around the globe from 32-bit microcontrollers for wearables and IoT to high-end 64-bit networking systems;
- Ensigma RPUs (radio connectivity processors), including high-performance Explorer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on-chip IP and Whisper ultra-low power sensor IP to enable the IoT era;
- Other technologies, including FlowCloud device-to-cloud connectivity systems, Caskeid multiroom streaming audio platform, and extensive FlowTalk and ClearCall VoIP technologies.
Imagination Technologies: www.imgtec.com
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company: www.tsmc.com
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