The MIPS M5150/M5100 processor cores are ideal for IoT, wearable and other embedded and real-time applications.
The M51xx cores are superset extensions of the MIPS microAptiv family, featuring:
The M51xx cores implement the MIPS Release 5 architecture which incorporates hardware virtualization. Virtualization provides a foundation for MIPS multi-domain security that leads to the highest level of security of any embedded microcontroller architecture. Virtualization also enhances IP protection and reliability for a wide range of applications including: industrial controllers, Internet of Things (IoT), wearables, wireless communications, automotive and storage.
Virtualization support is provided for both the M5100 microcontroller-class and M5150 embedded processor versions of the M51xx family, a feature not available in competing alternatives.
Additional security is provided by the ‘anti-tamper’ feature in these cores, which includes countermeasures that provide resistance to unwanted access to the processor.
An optional IEEE 754 Floating Point Unit provides high-performance support of both single and double precision instructions.
The M51xx family includes the following processor cores:
The MIPS M5100 features an integrated SRAM controller and a real time execution unit, optimized for low cost, low power microcontroller applications.
The MIPS M5150 incorporates a high performance L1 cache controller and virtual memory management support for high performance embedded system applications and rich operating systems.
MIPS Series5 Warrior M-class cores offer high performance, scalable and trusted solutions for a wide range of embedded applications.
- MIPS Series5 Warrior M-class cores offer high performance, scalable and trusted solutions for a wide range of embedded applications.
- The M51xx cores enable a broad range of systems to benefit from high levels of security, reliability and flexibility in a low-power, compact form factor.
- The M51xx cores are enhancements of the MIPS microAptiv family designed with the same five-stage pipeline architecture, utilizing the high-performance digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities along with the microMIPS ISA for code size reduction
- Support is provided by a comprehensive set of hardware and software development tools from MIPS as well as a growing ecosystem of partners.
- Several hypervisors for the M-Class cores are available and under development from MIPS and leading third party developers including Seltech and PUCRS University in Brazil.
Documentation
Applications
- Industrial control and automation
- Internet of Things (IoT), Machine to Machine (M2M)
- Wearables
- Home appliances, digital consumer products
- Automotive
- Cloud computing
- Network communications
- Storage
Benefits
- Standard architecture, proven in millions of SoC designs
- Hardware virtualization – supports multiple software environments running independently, securely, efficiently and in complete isolation to each other
- Available in microcontroller and embedded processor versions for use in a wide range of operating environments
- Combined MCU and DSP technology for cost-effective signal processing
- Available as synthesizable IP for implementation in any process node, with standard cells and memories
- Flexibility and scalability – single design to cover a broad range of applications
- FPU to accelerate real-time control in industrial, automotive and digital consumer applications
- Broad software and ecosystem support, and mature toolchain
- High-performance, area- and energy- efficient architecture: performance requirement achieved at lower frequency and smaller size than the competition
Architecture
- MIPS32 Release 5 Architecture
- microMIPS ISA
Hardware Virtualization
- Create multiple execution environments (Guest) isolated from each other, operating at kernel privilege level
- Supports up to 7 Guests, each supplied a unique ID; Guest OS runs un-modified
- Supports multiple Memory Management Unit options for optimum area vs. functionality
- Hypervisor/Secure Monitor (Root) manages access rights for each Guest
- 7 new instructions facilitate Root-to-Guest communication
- Allows sharing of resources (memory, DSP, FPU etc.) between Guests
DSP Module r2
- Dedicated pipeline, operates in parallel with core integer pipeline
- Enhanced Multiply & Divide Unit
- Implements over 150 instructions, including 70 SIMD and 38 Multiply/MAC instructions
- Supports up to 4 Accumulators
Floating Point Unit (FPU)
- Single and double precision IEEE 754 compliant FPU
- Dedicated 7-stage pipeline, operating in parallel with core integer pipeline
- Executes 1:1 Core:FPU clock ratio
- Supports IEEE-754 2008 Nan and ABS instructions
- Most instructions execute with 1 cycle throughput and 4 cycle latency
- Supports both MIPS32 and microMIPS instructions
Anti-Tamper
- Injection of random pipeline stalls
- 2 pseudo random number generators for use by the user software and core logic
- Cache/SPRAM address and data scrambling
Memory Controller
- M5150 – L1 cache controller for Instruction and Data sizes up to 64KB, 4-way set associative
- M5100 – 32-bit address and data SRAM interface, separate or unified instruction and data interface
Bus Interface Unit
- AMBA 3 AHB
EJTAG Debug & Trace
- Secure debug feature – prevents streaming instructions through the EJTAG port
- Support for 2 Performance Counters with multiple event type options
- Support for 2-wire cJTAG debug interface
- Supports enhanced iFlowtrace™ with additional event trace modes
- Instruction and data address sampling: zero overhead, qualified read/write
- Simple/Complex instruction and data breakpoint support – 2I/1D, 4I/2D, 6I/2D, 8I/4D
Power Management
- Incorporates extensive fine-grain clock gating
- Implements a Power Down mode initiated by a WAIT instruction
Expandability
- Optional co-processor (COP2) and CorExtend™ / User Defined Instruction (UDI) interfaces
M5100 Core Specifications
| Process Node | 65LP | 28HPM | ||
| Optimization**** | Speed | Area | Speed | Area |
| Frequency* (MHz) | 322 | 100 | 497 | 100 |
| Performance (DMIPS) | 505 | 157 | 780 | 157 |
| Area** (mm2) | 0.77 | 0.2 | 0.23 | 0.04 |
| Core Active Power*** (mW/MHz) | 0.11 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.017 |
| Sleep Power (µW/MHz) | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| Cell Library | 9T LVt | 9T SVt | 12T SVt | 9T LVt |
M5150 Core Specifications
| Process Node | 65LP | 28HPM |
| Optimization**** | Speed | Speed |
| Frequency* (MHz) | 372 | 576 |
| Performance (DMIPS) | 584 | 904 |
| Area** (mm2) | 0.89 | 0.26 |
| Core Active Power*** (mW/MHz) | 0.13 | 0.07 |
| Sleep Power (µW/MHz) | 2.7 | 1.5 |
| Cell Library | 9T LVt | 12T SVt |
Notes: Frequency, power consumption and size depend upon configuration options, synthesis, silicon vendor, process
* Production frequency PTSI
65LP: +/- 5% OCV, 50ps clock jitter
28HPM: +/- 4% OCV, 25ps clock jitter
** Core Floorplanned area
*** Power measured at typical corner, 25C at 1.2V/65LP, 0.9V/28HPM
**** M5100 Speed Optimized – microMIPS + FPU + DSP + 32KB/32KB I/D SRAM, FMT+32RPU + AHB
**** M5100 Area Optimized – microMIPS + DSP +8RPU
Area optimized frequency can be higher/lower than the target chosen
**** M5150 Speed Optimized – microMIPS + FPU + DSP + 32KB/32KB I$/D$ + 32RTLB/32GTLB + AHB