Trends in Low Power Embedded Processors or How Smart Phones Can Keep Getting Smarter

Rob Aitken
ARM

Monday, February 1, 2010 at 1:00PM
54-134 Engineering IV Building
Refreshments Served

Abstract: Embedded microprocessors lurk everywhere today. Not just in smart phones, but also in intelligent television sets, reasonably clever picture frames, and precocious thermometers. Historically, two main trends are responsible for this proliferation. Most people are aware of the ongoing ability to construct ever smaller and faster circuits, but the ability to power these circuits efficiently with only minor improvements in battery technology is an equally important enabler for today's mobile lifestyle. This talk begins with a brief journey through the history of the embedded processor, then moves on to a look at the issues faced in recent technology generations and some circuit and architecture techniques that have been developed in response to them. The talk concludes with an outline of some of the challenges ahead and some of the approaches being proposed to address them.

Bio: Robert C. Aitken is an R&D Fellow at ARM. His areas of responsibility include low power design, library architecture for advanced process nodes, and design for manufacturability. His research interests include design for variability, defect analysis, and fault diagnosis. He heads the San Jose branch of ARM's R&D operation, which has taped out a number of chips, including 4 at or below the 32nm node. He has published over 70 technical papers, on topics ranging from the statistics of memory bit cell variability to the use of static current monitoring as a circuit testing and diagnostic mechanism (papers on the latter topic twice received the best paper award from the International Test Conference). Dr. Aitken joined ARM as part of its acquisition of Artisan Components in 2004. Prior to Artisan, he worked at Agilent and HP. He has given tutorials and short courses on several subjects at conferences and universities worldwide. He holds a Ph.D. degree from McGill University in Canada. Dr. Aitken is a senior member of the IEEE, and serves on a number of conference and workshop committees.

Video: http://www.eeweb.ee.ucla.edu/videos/EE297_Unspecified_2010-02-01_01-05-AM.htm