Clockless asynchronous microprocessor will lead to faster microprocessors requiring less power; Advanced RISC Machines and the University of Manchester team to develop asynchronous microprocessors based on ARM core

Business Wire, Dec 12, 1994

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 1994--Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. (ARM) and the University of Manchester have announced a collaborative research initiative leading to the development of the industry's first "clockless" asynchronous microprocessor.

This effort could lead to much faster processors requiring less power. This is an important development since many of today's microprocessors, such as the Intel Pentium, require so much power that they require special cooling and aren't practical for today's popular battery operated portable computer and communications products.

Under a new agreement, ARM acquires the rights to research into computing without clocks from the team led by Professor Steve Furber of the University of Manchester. In March this year, Furber's team successfully created Amulet1, the world's first fully asynchronous implementation of a commercial processor. This implementation was based on the ARM60 core.

"Asynchronous techniques offer designers new flexibility to reduce power consumption and boost performance," said Tudor Brown, ARM's Engineering Director. "Already large chips with simple structure, such as leading-edge DRAM, are partially asynchronous internally. The ARM810 processor, due next year, has already benefited from some of the ideas explored in Amulet, and complete functional blocks, like a multiplier possibly, may go asynchronous in a couple more product generations."

Prof. Furber, the asynchronous research team leader, thanked those who are supporting him: "We have received important funding from the European Commission's esprit Open Microprocessor systems Initiative (OMI). We would not have been able to make a working asynchronous processor without the EC funding in combination with early support from ARM, who gave us access to their architecture and design tools."

"University collaboration has effectively enhanced our research capabilities, and is a good example of ARM's partnering strategy that aims to get our architecture rapidly established," commented Robin Saxby, managing director of ARM. "ARM has the best performance to power consumption of ratio in the industry and research like this will help us maintain our MIPS/Watt lead.

"ARM is aiming to be the world's volume RISC standard, so this ratio is important in a future dominated by battery powered products."

Advanced RISC Machines Limited (ARM)

ARM designs, licenses and markets fast, low cost, low power consumption RISC processors for embedded control, consumer multi-media, DSP and portable applications. ARM licenses its technology to semiconductor partner companies, who focus on manufacturing, applications and marketing.

Each partner offers unique ARM related technologies and services, which satisfy a wide range of end-user application needs. ARM also designs and licenses peripherals, supporting software & hardware tools and offers design services, feasibility studies and training. This results in a global group committed to making the ARM architecture the world's volume RISC standard.

ARM's partners may be contacted for further information: VLSI Technology, GEC Plessey Semiconductors, Sharp, Texas Instruments, Cirrus Logic, Samsung and AKM. Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. (ARM) corporate headquarters is located in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom, telephone: 44 223 400 400. ARM's North American operations is based in Los Gatos, telephone: 408/399-8853.

University of Manchester, Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester was founded in 1964 and is the oldest University computing department in the United Kingdom. The University is well known for computer innovation with developments like the Manchester Mark I (world's first stored program digital computer) and the Atlas (first with virtual memory).

The highly rated Department has broadened in recent years with internationally recognized research into computer architecture, system software, CAD, hardware systems engineering and artificial intelligence.

ARM and the ARM Powered logo are trademarks of Advanced RISC

Machines Ltd. Pentium is a trademark and Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corp.

CONTACT: Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.

             Tim O'Donnell, 408/399-8855
             Franson, Hagerty and Associates
             Mark Alden, 415/462-1605