June 6, 2011 -- Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc. has reached an agreement with Beyond Semiconductor by which CAST will provide Beyond Semiconductor's BA22 processor core worldwide.

The BA22 is a fast, compact, power-saving, 32-bit RISC processor that CAST will offer without royalties. These capabilities, plus easy development and integration features, make the processor an excellent step up for CAST's large base of 8-bit 8051 users who need more processing power. In fact, the BA22's programming code is so efficient that systems using it may require less silicon area than an 8051 with its respective code and memory.

CAST will package the affordable BA22 with peripheral controllers and other essential IP. The initial focus is on deeply embedded systems; later platforms will exploit the processor's scalability and performance potential to support broader applications.

The platform approach gives developers a ready-to-use processor subsystem, and eases the transition to 32-bit processing for designers accustomed to similarly configured 8051 IP cores.

"The 8051 is still a good choice for many chips, but our experience with designers incorporating data-intensive functions like touch-based interfaces and high-res video makes it clear they really need a good 32-bit embedded processor," said Bill Finch, CAST's Senior Vice President for Sales. "The silicon-proven BA22's performance, tiny code footprint, and mature development tools make it a great choice for many new systems, while our 15 years of microprocessor IP experience and very attractive business model make CAST a great 32-bit processor provider."

Availability

Limited availability of the BA22 from CAST begins now, with a full product roll out in the next quarter. IP integration services are also available.