By Alex Pluemer, contributing writer
Redpine Signals, Inc., a provider of wireless semiconductor and systems solutions, recently unveiled the RS12000 SmartMCU family of MCUs, which the company boasts as the first series of MCUs specifically targeted to meet the stringent memory, security, and MIPS requirements of IoT devices and applications. Based on a multi-core IoT processor architecture, the RS12000 SmartMCU family provides industry-best performance and ultra-low power while maintaining high-level security and extending battery life as compared to standard Arm Cortex-M4 MCUs, according to the company. Applications include voice assistant-enabled, edge-intelligent IoT, and network/cloud-connected devices.
Leveraging Redpine’s gear-shifting processor architecture and ThreadArch four-threaded network security processor, the RS12000 SmartMCU family features an Arm Cortex M4F running up to 250 MHz, a sensor hub DSP coprocessor at 125 MHz, a four-threaded network security processor running up to 160 MHz, and a full suite of analog and digital peripherals, including VAD, CAN, Ethernet, eMMC/SD Card, ADC, op amps, DAC, and USB HS-OTG with PHY.
Configurations feature up to four cores and provide double the processing power, memory, and peripherals by including two gear-shifting Arm Cortex M4 processors and two ThreadArch network security processors, said Redpine. The integrated network security processor allows designers to run an embedded TCP/IP stack and access both the RAM and M4 processor cycles. A sensor hub coprocessor operating at 125 MHz accelerates machine learning and DSP processing functions in a local sensor data buffer, thereby lessening the load on the M4 processor.
Based on a trusted execution environment (TEE) architecture in conjunction with a separate network security processor, the RS12000 SmartMCU products include suite-B Crypto HW accelerators, secure boot, secure firmware upgrade, secure XIP, and secure peripherals, making them well-suited for IoT applications like smart home security systems, medical devices, and voice-based ordering.
“Existing MCU solutions in the market feature either high performance or low power, forcing IoT device designers to choose one mode or utilize multiple MCUs in their designs,” according to Venkat Mattela, CEO of Redpine Signals. “With its unique gear-shifting architecture, Redpine has — for the first time — empowered IoT designers with both high performance and low power within a single processor core. By combining this architecture with the RS12000 series’ best-in-class trusted execution environment, Redpine is accelerating the development of the next generation of intelligent and wireless connected devices with zero compromise on security.”
The RS12100 SmartMCU features include:
- An Arm Cortex-M4F up to 250 MHz
- A sensor hub DSP coprocessor up to 125 MHz
- Up to 400 KB RAM and 4 Mbytes Flash
The RS12200 high-performance MCU features include:
- Single-core and dual-core Arm Cortex-M4F versions up to 250 MHz
- A sensor hub DSP coprocessor up to 125 MHz
- Up to 800 KB RAM and 8 Mbytes Flash
The RS12300 secure MCU with TEE features include:
- Single-core and dual-core Arm Cortex-M4F versions up to 250 MHz
- A sensor hub DSP coprocessor up to 125 MHz
- Up to 800 KB RAM and 8 Mbytes Flash
- A ThreadArch network security processor at 160 MHz: up to 1 MB ROM, an integrated security stack, an integrated full-featured TCP/IP stack, and TEE with secure boot
The RS12000 SmartMCU series is available in QFN, BGA, and WLCSP packages. Samples are available now, followed by volume production starting in Q1 2019.
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