Open-Silicon offers MIPS processor core for ASICs

Fabless ASIC provider Open-Silicon Inc. has expanded its intellectual-property (IP) chip and library offerings by signing a deal with MIPS Technologies Inc. The company has also licensed a 90nm IP kit that was jointly developed by MIPS Technologies and Virage Logic Corp. This kit, comprising Virage Logic's memory and logic IP, is tuned to MIPS' processors.

The pact with MIPS allows Open-Silicon to offer the MIPS32 24Kc Pro processor core for use in ASIC and SoC designs.

MIPS' MIPS32 24K core family combines the company's 24K embedded-processor microarchitecture with DSP extensions, said Pete Del Vecchio, product-marketing manager for MIPS. The 24Kc Pro core allows SoC designers to write their own instruction-set extensions to create highly differentiated and competitive products.

Besides the MIPS core, Open-Silicon offers other processor IP, including technology from ARM Ltd and the PowerPC 405 and 440 cores. Open-Silicon's manufacturing partners include silicon foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

The components are part of the OpenModel, Open-Silicon's alternative to a traditional ASIC development process. Intended to minimize risk and lower costs, OpenModel is said to simplify the IP selection and integration process for designers. OpenModel gives customers access to qualified processor IP, manufacturing and packaging providers, Open Silicon said.

- Mark LaPedus
EE Times