Off-the-shelf components don’t always enable the best products; to be able to differentiate on price, features, size or reliability, sometimes a custom chip is the only way to go. A few years ago, designing your own custom chip may have seemed like an uphill battle reserved for only the brave or optimistic who had deep pockets with significant product volume.
The situation has changed, however, with easier, quicker access to IP, expertise and low-cost solutions enabling OEMs or even the aspiring innovator to get to silicon quicker and at lower cost. The lure of differentiation and IP protection, combined with reduced area, power and BoM costs, mean custom chips are benefiting a much wider group of companies.
The route to connected and secure embedded solutions for uniquely differentiated applications is paved with a much more energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative than off-the-shelf components – the custom chip. With IoT enabling innovation in products and services, taking embedded intelligence to a whole new level, designers and entrepreneurs are forced to remain competitive by pushing the boundaries of what products can do.
But who will get their product to market with success – or get there at all? It’s the same path for all, but the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t can be boiled down to a series of choices.
Ultimately, taking the smartest, easiest route to silicon. Reducing design costs; ensuring the skills and support to design an efficient system; working with the trusted partners; testing effectively – and at each step of the way, Arm can help you choose the smartest route for your application.
Whether you are a sensor or mixed-signal company, a start-up or an OEM, you can deliver products or services that are cutting edge and differentiated with the help of Arm technology and ecosystem through the Arm DesignStart program.
Here are six reasons why Arm is the best partner for your custom SoC project:
Arm DesignStart makes it even easier to access the Arm Cortex-M0 processor – the entry to the widest ecosystem for embedded applications. It is ideal for those looking to use a Cortex-M in a wide range of markets, including IoT, sensors, control and mixed-signal SoCs.
Developing custom SoCs requires know-how and experience – whether in house or from a third party. That’s why Arm has collated the necessary resources required to help SoC designers and have put them into a special DesignStart forum.
The DesignStart Community is the one-stop shop to access technical information, whitepapers, videos, and FAQs to help you design with Arm IP faster and easier. In addition, the DesignStart Community facilitates discussion and sharing of best practice; you can ask questions, get advice and connect with ecosystem partners – all at your fingertips.
Artisan Physical IP delivers the most comprehensive and advanced physical IP solution in the industry. Using Arm Artisan Physical IP enables efficient implementation of SoC designs. Arm is the industry-leading provider of advanced physical IP products including logic IP, standard cell, embedded memory compilers, interface IP and Arm POP IP, with all Artisan physical IP products specifically optimized for each foundry and process technology.
More information on Arm’s Artisan physical IP is available on the Arm DesignStart portal. Through DesignStart, customers can browse, investigate and download Artisan IP for evaluation.
The Cortex-M0 package, available on designstart.arm.com, enables SoC developers to design, simulate and test their Cortex-M0 based systems for free. Developers can then go on to prototype on an FPGA board that can be purchased from Arm.
Many companies simply want the benefits of custom SoCs without having to build their own SoC development expertise turn to design services partners to help them. How do you engage the supply chain? What questions should you ask? How do to manage all of the different relationships? The time and effort of building the network and finding the right partners can feel overwhelming.
In order to further help product designers create custom SoCs, Arm has developed its Arm Approved Design Services program. This network includes a range of audited design houses and design services companies that offer Arm-based chip-development expertise, from turn-key chip development to consultancy. They can assist teams with less SoC design experience and can provide additional resource to smaller design teams.
They are audited on their ability to deliver success in SoC design services based around Cortex-M0 and the DesignStart program. They have to demonstrate a record of delivering successful design projects using Arm Cortex IP.
Once ready to move to the commercialization phase, a developer can upgrade to a simplified and standardized $40k fast track license. This includes: commercial use of Arm Cortex-M0 processor IP, SDK, and Keil MDK development tools, along with Arm technical support.
With the DesignStart program, Arm makes it easier than ever for product developers to design custom, innovative chips with minimal outlay. It’s the lowest-risk path from concept to Arm-based silicon and is supported by the world’s number one ecosystem for embedded applications.
Why wait? Get your custom chip going today.
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