DesignStart for Processor IP

Fast & Easy Access to the Worlds Leading Processor IP

DesignStart™ is the world's premier IP access portal containing comprehensive online access to ARM IP.

The DesignStart for Processor IP portal provides free access to gate-level Verilog of the ARM Cortex-M0 processor and simulation models of the ARM Cortex-M3 and ARM926™ processors.

The portal is designed to enable organizations new to ARM, or to ARM Processor IP, to rapidly access, simulate and develop systems based around ARM Cortex-M processors.

Alongside leading Processor IP the DesignStart program enables you to access:

ARM foundry sponsored Physical IP - (free to end user), and
Applications optimised Physical IP - "Try Before You Buy" (license fee)

A full overview of the ARM DesignStart program can be found here.

DesignStart - Available Processor IP

Download	Type	Description
ARM Cortex-M0 DesignStart Processor	Processor Design Kit (Manufacture / Prototype / Simulation)	The ARM Cortex-M0 processor is the fastest licensing ARM processor today. The low power, small gate count and code footprint of the processor makes it ideal for MCU and mixed signal applications, providing 32-bit performance and efficiency in an 8/16-bit footprint. As the entry-level ARM processor, it is also ideal for designers, students and researchers who need low cost access to industry standard processor IP. The DesignStart version contains obfuscated gate-level Verilog of the processor, and is available to approved educational institutions and companies with no initial payment necessary. Although this special version has some limitations relative to the full ARM Cortex-M0 processor, it is fully software compatible and enables designers to create manufacturable designs.
ARM Cortex-M3 DesignStart Processor	Processor Design Kit (Simulation)	The Cortex-M3 processor is one of the most popular ARM processors and offers exceptional interrupt handling and highly deterministic behaviour in demanding computational applications. The Cortex-M3 processor has rapidly gained momentum in the traditional microcontroller domain where it has replaced proprietary 32-bit MCUs as well as many 16-bit devices. The Cortex-M3 processor is also used in many other applications including Bluetooth radio, medical electronics, and automotive systems. The Cortex-M3 Design Kit enables developers to rapidly simulate and prototype microcontroller and microprocessor systems.
ARM926EJ DesignStart Processor	Processor Design Kit (Simulation)	The ARM926EJ processor is a popular processor ideally suited to applications which require a MMU, enabling support of a rich OS, such as Microsoft Windows Embedded, Symbian, Google Android or Linux. The ARM926EJ Processor Design Kit delivers everything a Partner needs to rapidly develop a prototype design. This kit contains both simulation models and limited physical views

Download

Type

Description

ARM Cortex-M0 DesignStart Processor

Processor Design Kit

(Manufacture / Prototype / Simulation)

The ARM Cortex-M0 processor is the fastest licensing ARM processor today. The low power, small gate count and code footprint of the processor makes it ideal for MCU and mixed signal applications, providing 32-bit performance and efficiency in an 8/16-bit footprint. As the entry-level ARM processor, it is also ideal for designers, students and researchers who need low cost access to industry standard processor IP.

The DesignStart version contains obfuscated gate-level Verilog of the processor, and is available to approved educational institutions and companies with no initial payment necessary. Although this special version has some limitations relative to the full ARM Cortex-M0 processor, it is fully software compatible and enables designers to create manufacturable designs.

ARM Cortex-M3 DesignStart Processor

Processor Design Kit

(Simulation)

The Cortex-M3 processor is one of the most popular ARM processors and offers exceptional interrupt handling and highly deterministic behaviour in demanding computational applications. The Cortex-M3 processor has rapidly gained momentum in the traditional microcontroller domain where it has replaced proprietary 32-bit MCUs as well as many 16-bit devices. The Cortex-M3 processor is also used in many other applications including Bluetooth radio, medical electronics, and automotive systems.

The Cortex-M3 Design Kit enables developers to rapidly simulate and prototype microcontroller and microprocessor systems.

ARM926EJ DesignStart Processor

Processor Design Kit

(Simulation)

The ARM926EJ processor is a popular processor ideally suited to applications which require a MMU, enabling support of a rich OS, such as Microsoft Windows Embedded, Symbian, Google Android or Linux.

The ARM926EJ Processor Design Kit delivers everything a Partner needs to rapidly develop a prototype design. This kit contains both simulation models and limited physical views

Processor Design Kit

The Processor Design kit includes a variety of components to help developers get to market as quickly as possible. The kits include:

Cortex-M0 DesignStart Procesor

Obfuscated Verilog netlist
Simple test-bench
Example test code

Cortex-M3 DesignStart Processor

Design Simulation Model (DSM)
Generic Timing View

ARM926 DesignStart Processor

Design Simulation Model (DSM)
Technical Reference Manual
Generic Timing View
Physical Outline View
Test Model

Additional documentation, including Technical Reference Manuals, can be downloaded from infocenter.arm.com

Design Simulation Model

DSMs are back-annotation-capable, timing accurate, simulation models that you can include in a range of target HDL simulators. Each DSM is specific to a simulator and host platform.

Each DSM matches the architecture and functionality of a specific ARM core design. ARM ensures this by certifying the DSM against the entire Architecture Validation Suite (AVS) and Device Validation Suite (DVS) associated with that ARM core.

DSMs can function with a wide range of industry-standard Verilog and VHDL simulators. They are derived directly from the ARM core Register Transfer Level (RTL) code. They can accept timing data through the Standard Delay Format (SDF) annotation facility on the simulator.

DSM execution speeds are in the range of 5-500 cycles-per-second (cps), depending on:

Simulator interface efficiency
Complexity of the design it is instantiated in
Complexity of the CPU that is being modeled

Features of DSMs are:

Full device functionality
Phase accuracy
Register visibility
Minimum, typical, and maximum pin-to-pin delays
Setup and hold, input pulse checking, output delays
Cache and memory size configuration
Timing and back-annotation
Nine-value logic and resolution
Disassembler

DSMs are intended for functional and timing simulation. They are not designed for fault simulation or static timing analysis.

Processor Foundry Program

An alternative to the DesignStart program for partners looking to get to market quickly with a low-risk pre-hardened solution is the Processor Foundry Program.

The Foundry Program builds a three-way partnership between ARM, an approved silicon foundry, and a fabless semiconductor company that accelerates the time-to-market for ARM processor-based designs and enables OEMs without access to fabrication facilities, to work directly with an approved ARM semiconductor foundry.