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1999-08-30, BG9906, Philips Semiconductors, the largest European semiconductor manufacturer, has announced that it has developed a new design methodology that supports the design of System On Chips (SOC) and can significantly shorten design cycle times. Its Silicon System Platform (SSP) concept incorporates the current re-useable module approach for hardware and software Intellectual Property (IP) blocks and adds the stage of having an architecture for a given application area to provide the rules to ensure that they fit together properly. "A general purpose architecture for all possible applications would be highly inefficient for any specific case," explained Theo Claasen, Philips Semiconductors' Chief Technology Officer. "We have therefore created a number of SSPs for applications that have similar functional requirements, each with its own, open, programmable architecture. Each SSP consists of a set or 'kit' of re-useable hardware and software components that provides all the elements needed to create IC solutions for any application within that area, including the application software to drive them. No invention needs to be done to make SSPs work as all the features exist today - they just have to be packaged and managed in this innovative way to overcome the design complexity of creating a single chip solution instead of having to create every IC from scratch. The most essential issue is the discipline of the design community to design blocks for re-use, and design software and chips with as many re-usable blocks as possible. " "As a result of adopting the SSP methodology across the company, we can substantially shorten product design and development times from months to weeks - helped by the fact that the ICs made in this manner usually work first time. Managing the complexity as products become more highly featured is vital. Being first to market is critical for our consumer electronics customers to meet new market and user needs and set a de-facto standard as well. " "The pressure is on us to supply the right system solutions, at the right time and at the right price - SSPs enable us to do just that. SSPs provide a whole new way of doing business faster and smarter. System design remains much more flexible up until the end (and even with the system out in the field) because the SSP programmable methodology allows much of the functionality to be provided by software that can be modified, enhanced and upgraded through programmable hardware and embedded non-volatile memory."
Modules that are guaranteed to work together "Managing core components is crucial," Claasen added. "To be successful, a company needs a rich enough block set to build whatever is necessary, but not so many that they aren't re-used." Philips Semiconductors has defined core hardware components for re-use, which covers memories, analog and digital blocks, DSPs and design support. The company provides microcontrollers based on the 80C51 and XA for 8-bit and 16-bit applications and is licensed to produce both the MIPS Technologies and ARM microprocessor cores, which can be integrated with the company's own TriMedia processor cores in a multi-processor environment. Software re-use is at least as important as re-usable software is essential for cost and time-to-market reasons. Philips Semiconductors has reliable, re-usable software components in a direct analogy with the hardware components, including operating system, APIs, drivers and specific software components for each SSP. Full support is provided by the appropriate software and hardware development tools and on-chip and system buses.
Benefits to manufacturers of Philips Semiconductors SSP methodology
Programmability benefits the end customers and will boost acceptance of new technologies
Unique skill set
Flexibility can cut overall system costs
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