Iran Develops 32-Bit Processor

Peter Clarke(07/26/2006 1:36 PM EDT)
URL: Web site. During that time it has developed the Aristo and Tiny cores based on the Sparc V8 architecture, and has now proved the cores out in silicon.
Parsé works with the High Tech Industries Center of Iran, according to its website.



Aristo is a core intended for SoC implementation and, according to Parsé, the processor has been declared fully functional after fabrication in a 0.18-micron process technology from foundry company Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The Tiny model of the processor is intended for FPGA and fast ASIC implementation, where the processor may not need cache memory or other peripheral blocks. The Tiny core has already been designed into a single-chip global positioning by satellite (GPS) system that is being designed to include both RF and baseband circuitry.



In addition Parsé has released its own chip called Tachra, which includes the Aristo processor core, together with a suite of Tachra development tools.



The Aristo and Tiny processor cores and the Tachra processor component are suitable for use in communications projects, automated manufacturing, industrial automation, robotic systems and artificial intelligence, and data transfer networks, according to the Fars News Agency.



It is expected that, compared with the latest microprocessors developed in the west, Aristo, Tiny and Tachra would be relatively modest in performance. No performance benchmarks could be found on the Parsé Web site.



Aristo, Tiny and Tachra are likely to have much in common with the Leon, Leon2 and Leon3 processors, which are also Sparc V8 compatible, and provided by Gaisler Research AB (Goteborg, Sweden).



Gaisler Research, founded by Jiri Gaisler in 2001, performs custom microprocessor development and fault tolerant computer system design. Tt was while working for the European Space Agency (ESA) prior to 2001 that Gaisler developed Leon, a Sparc-compliant 32-bit processor, for which the design source code was made freely available.



The full source code of the Leon3 processor is also available under the GNU GPL license, for free and unlimited use for research and education, but Leon3 has a paid-for commercial license and includes multiprocessor support. The commercial version of Leon3 is capable of a 400-MHz clock frequency on a 0.13-micron manufacturing process.




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