ATMEL AVR32: NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE 32-BIT CONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE!
ATMEL has logically advanced the development of its worldwide popular 8-bit AVR line and now offers a 32-bit architecture based on the same. The new architecture, the AVR32 controller, offers specially expanded DSP capabilities and extremely low current consumption, as well as high performance.
These days, many manufacturers are improving controller throughput performance by increasing the clock frequency alone. Of course, this is also an important parameter and it does actually improve throughput, though it logically also increases power consumption commensurately. For many applications, however, this is not an acceptable option.
The AVR32 has been designed with a different approach, namely to achieve a high throughput at a low clock frequency, and the high level of system integration is a key factor in making this possible: The controller is equipped with its own co-processor for vector multiplication, 32KB SRAM, 16KB (each) data and instruction caches, an MMU, a DMA controller, a 16-bit audio DAC, a 2048 x 2048 TFT/STN LCD controller, a 480Mbps USB 2.0 interface, two Ethernet MACs, as well as virtually all popular serial interfaces.
In addition, the new architecture integrates many specialized features, for example DFS (Dynamic Frequency Scaling) for 4 clock sources in the AVR32. Two of these sources are intended for the peripheral module, one is for the CPU clock and one for the bus matrix.
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They can also be dynamically adjusted to meet individualized operational requirements - yet another outstanding capability of this new architecture.
The AP7000 family comprises the first of these new processors, with available versions differing in the types of interfaces on board. For more details, please see the accompanying overview.
A new chip also raises the question of supporting tools, and ATMEL already has the answer: The STK 1000 is a cost-effective starter kit that is being offered to accompany the launch of the AP7000 product family. The kit includes a Linux operating system, a GCC compiler, a GNU debugger and all drivers. The separately available AT JTAGICE2 debugger can be used for debugging. For customers who prefer using IAR Workbench, there is also an AVR32 version available for this development environment.
I would be pleased to answer your inquiries:
Johannes Kornfehl, EXT 49
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