ARM launches its lowest power processor

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ARM, the British processor manufacturer, has announced the Cortex M0 processor, which it says is its lowest power and most energy efficient yet.

The power consumption figure is a tiny 85 microwatts per megahertz, but ARM said it offers 32-bit performance levels for the price of an 8-bit chip. This low cost is partially achieved through a low gate count. In terms of size, it fits the same footprint as a 16-bit processor and the processor is also backwards compatible with the Cortex-M3 processor.

The company said that this will enable it to extend its presence into the microcontroller market, and that the chip will be found in a wide range of areas such as medical devices, smart house controllers, gaming accessories, in home networks and in cars.

ARM says that it already has licences for the chip from NXP Semiconductors and Triad Semiconductor.

“The Cortex-M0 processor is yet another demonstration of ARM’s low power leadership and its commitment to drive the industry forward towards higher performance with ever lower power consumption,” said Mike Inglis, executive vice president and general manager, of ARM's processor division, in a statement.

“With its expertise in low-power technology, ARM has worked closely with its partners and their customers to ensure that our processor architectures enable the cost and energy-efficient creation of tomorrow’s electronic devices and systems.”

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