When it comes to new and better processors or their architectures, the first thing that an average user needs to know is that whether or not the new processor is more powerful, followed closely by the second question inquiring about the power consumption of the processor. Now, ARM is claiming that it’s new ARM Cortex-M0+ microprocessor architecture is the most energy-efficient in the world!
This Cortex M0+ architecture is an immediate successor to ARM’s Cortex-M0 architecture, which was considered to be ARM’s smallest architecture. The new M0+ architecture retains the small size of M0 architecture and at the same time is able to cut down the energy consumption by one-third, thus making it the world’s most energy-efficient microprocessor architecture.
So while this architecture is 32-bit, it consumes much less power while at the same time delivering better performance. According to the press release, the new processor has been licensed to two semiconductor companies already. These are Freescale and NXP. According to ARM, the processor has been optimized so that it can be a great choice for microcontrollers that are used in sensor and control systems.
But that is not say that ARM is intending to limit the use of the M0+ architecture to a specific field. Rather, the company is hoping that the new processor will be used in everything, from home appliances to medical applications. As per the press release from the company, “This low power connectivity has the potential to enable a range of energy-saving and life-enhancing applications from sensors to wirelessly analyze the performance and control of domestic or industrial buildings, to battery-operated body sensors wirelessly connected to health monitoring equipment. Current 8-bit and 16-bit MCUs lack the intelligence and functionality to deliver these applications.”
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