Freescale builds a system on a chip

ARM LICENSEE Freescale has announced its I.MX508 processor with ARM Cortex A8 technology.

Freescale claims the I.MX508 design is the first system-on-chip (SoC) to integrate advanced ARM Cortex 8 technology with the latest hardware-based display controller from E Ink. According to Freescale, it will improve performance and optimise energy use to help OEMs build better e-readers.

The I.MX508 is intended for next generation use on e-reader panels and supports panel resolutions up to 2048x1536 pixels at 106Hz. The ARM Cortex A8 engine has a clock speed of 800MHz to enable it to cope with complex image manipulations and colour processing. Freescale believes that it has enough power under the hood to handle features like advanced touch technology.

Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager of Freescale's multimedia applications division said, "Working closely with E Ink and our customers, we are able to offer an integrated silicon solution to facilitate lower e-reader retail prices and enable the next phase of growth in the ebook market."

Freescale claims that because the I.MX508 SoC integrates the E Ink display controller, it "[r]educes part counts and lowers costs associated with electronic paper display control functionality by as much as 50 percent compared to systems without an integrated controller."

The I.MX508 applications processor is expected to ship for around £6.70 per chip in quantities of over 250,000 units. µ