Imagination’s innovative Catapult CPU fuels RISC-V device adoption, revolutionizing tech landscape.

Embedded World

Imagination Technologies, a leading technology company, has just announced its latest product in the Catapult CPU IP range: the Imagination APXM-6200 CPU. This new CPU is a RISC-V application processor that offers impressive performance density, seamless security, and artificial intelligence capabilities. It is designed to meet the demanding compute and user experience needs of next-generation consumer and industrial devices.

According to Rich Wawrzyniak, Principal Analyst at SHD Group, the number of RISC-V based devices is expected to skyrocket, with over 16 billion units forecasted by 2030. The consumer market is a major driver of this growth, and it is predicted that one-fifth of all consumer devices will have a RISC-V based CPU by the end of the decade. Imagination is positioning itself as a key player in the RISC-V space with a strategy focused on quality and ease of adoption. The APXM-6200 CPU is a testament to this strategy.

The APXM-6200 CPU is a 64-bit, in-order application processor with an 11-stage, dual-issue pipeline. It delivers a significant improvement in performance and performance density compared to equivalent CPUs already on the market. Customers have the flexibility to choose between single-, dual-, and quad-core configurations based on their performance requirements. The CPU also offers per-core power control for maximum system efficiency and cache coherency.

One of the standout features of the APXM-6200 CPU is its AI capabilities. It supports the RISC-V vector extensions and provides fast data-coupling for AI accelerators. This enables developers to harness the power of artificial intelligence in their applications with ease.

Imagination is committed to making RISC-V based designs accessible to companies. The company has heavily invested in the open-source software ecosystem to ensure that when the APXM-6200 CPU ships in silicon, the software stacks will be available and performant. On the hardware side, Imagination’s engineering team follows a rigorous design and verification process to ensure that the Catapult CPUs are of the highest quality.

The ease of design migration is another key aspect of Imagination’s RISC-V solution. The company provides the Catapult SDK, which includes everything an embedded developer needs to write, build, and debug software for the target application. Additionally, Imagination offers an extension for Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code IDE, allowing Visual Studio users to seamlessly integrate the Catapult SDK into their development environment.

Security is a top priority in today’s connected world, and Imagination has taken this into account with the APXM-6200 CPU. It can be easily designed into a System-on-Chip (SoC) without compromising security. The CPU features a multi-domain isolation solution that integrates seamlessly with well-known and established security frameworks.

The APXM-6200 CPU is Android and Linux ready, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as Smart TVs, Smart Home Hubs, and Digital Signage. These devices often require a GPU to handle the graphical user interface, and Imagination is the preferred supplier of GPU IP for RISC-V based SoCs. When paired with an Imagination GPU, the APXM-6200 CPU delivers improved performance, with doubled bus utilization and halved memory traffic.

Imagination is also collaborating with industry leaders like Lauterbach and ProvenRun to expedite customers’ route to market. Lauterbach’s TRACE32 toolset allows designers to debug and control any RISC-V core in any SoC, including those in Imagination’s Catapult range. ProvenRun is working alongside Imagination to ensure that the security package of the APXM-6200 CPU meets industry standards.

To learn more about the Imagination APXM-6200 CPU and the Catapult CPU range, visit Imagination Technologies at Embedded World, Hall 4, Booth 4-659, from 9-11 April. You can also visit their CPU page to sign up for more information.

Background Information

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About Microsoft: Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Redmond, Washington, USA, is a technology giant known for its wide range of software products, including the Windows operating system, Office productivity suite, and cloud services like Azure. Microsoft also manufactures hardware, such as the Surface line of laptops and tablets, Xbox gaming consoles, and accessories.

  

Event Info

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About Embedded World: Embedded World, located in Nuremberg, Germany, is a leading international trade fair dedicated to embedded systems and technologies. Renowned for its comprehensive exhibition and conference program, Embedded World serves as a hub for engineers, developers, and decision-makers to explore the latest advancements in embedded hardware, software, and systems integration. The event facilitates networking, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities within the rapidly evolving field of embedded technology.

Technology Explained

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CPU: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It is the most important component of a computer system, as it is responsible for controlling all other components. CPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from desktop computers to mobile devices, gaming consoles, and even supercomputers. CPUs are used to process data, execute instructions, and control the flow of information within a computer system. They are also used to control the input and output of data, as well as to store and retrieve data from memory. CPUs are essential for the functioning of any computer system, and their applications in the computer industry are vast.

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GPU: GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is a specialized type of processor designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks. It is used in the computer industry to render images, videos, and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. They are also used in the medical field to create 3D models of organs and tissues, and in the automotive industry to create virtual prototypes of cars. GPUs are also used in the field of artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data and create complex models. GPUs are becoming increasingly important in the computer industry as they are able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

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SoC: A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated semiconductor device that encapsulates various electronic components, including processors, memory, input/output interfaces, and often specialized hardware components, all on a single chip. SoCs are designed to provide a complete computing system or subsystem within a single chip package, offering enhanced performance, power efficiency, and compactness. They are commonly used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to embedded systems and IoT devices, streamlining hardware complexity and facilitating efficient integration of multiple functions onto a single chip.