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Now you see it, now you don’t
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09/02/2006
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Like superheroes, the microprocessor has two personas: one society has accepted; and one that remains on the periphery. The former normally conforms to society’s expectations, but cannot exercise the special powers of its alter ego.
Meanwhile, its more mysterious counterpart wears a disguise in the form of being deeply embedded. So good is the disguise that the public doesn’t recognise it even when they see it. In this scenario, our hero is free to use all its awesome powers; focused on the task at hand and not easily put off.
Unlike superheroes, microprocessors are real. And, while we are familiar with the public image of the micro, it is perhaps its deeply embedded version that attracts more interest – not least because of its air of mystery.
Something’s missing
Cambridge Consultants (CCL) has a family of processors available as IP for embedding in asics or fpgas. Interestingly, the latest addition to the XAP processor family features a 16bit Von Neumann architecture, which at first sight seems to fly in the face of popular demand.
On reflection, however, it becomes apparent why CCL has chosen to develop a 16bit architecture just as the industry is moving towards 32bit processors for embedded applications.
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Author
Graham Pitcher
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