Engineering:Hercules (processors)

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ARM architectures
Arm logo 2017.svg
The ARM logo
DesignerARM Holdings
32-bit architectures (Cortex)
VersionARMv8-R, ARMv7-A, ARMv7-R, ARMv7E-M, ARMv7-M, ARMv6-M
Encoding32-bit except Thumb2 extensions use mixed 16- and 32-bit instructions.
EndiannessBi (Little as default)
ExtensionsThumb-2 (mandatory since ARMv7), NEON, Jazelle, FPv4-SP
Registers
General purpose16 x 32-bit integer registers including PC and SP
Floating pointUp to 32 × 64-bit registers,[1] SIMD/floating-point (optional)

Hercules is a line of ARM architecture-based microcontrollers from Texas Instruments built around one or more ARM Cortex cores. This "Hercules safety microcontroller platform" includes series microcontrollers specifically targeted for Functional Safety applications, through such hardware-base fault correction/detection features as dual cores that can run in lock-step, full path ECC, automated self testing of memory and logic, peripheral redundancy, and monitor/checker cores.

This line includes the TMS470M, TMS570 and RM4 families. These families were "Designed specifically for IEC 61508 and ISO 26262 safety critical applications".[2] However, they differ significantly in the degree of support for these safety standards:[3]

TMS470
  • Value Line Transportation and Safety MCUs
  • Supports Safety for
    • IEC 61508 systems
RM4
  • High Performance Industrial and Medical Safety MCUs
  • Developed to Safety Standards
    • IEC 61508 SIL-3
TMS570
  • High Performance Transportation and Safety MCUs
  • Developed to Safety Standards
    • IEC 61508 SIL-3
    • ISO 26262 ASIL D
In particular, TMS570 support for ASIL D is accomplished through dual lock-step cores.

See also

  • IEC 61508 (Functional Safety Standard)
  • ISO 26262 (Automotive Functional Safety Standard)
  • Qorivva, a comparable 32-bit PowerPC safety microprocessor line from Freescale

References

External links