SoC design team leverages Arm IP throughout project
| License payment only for IP used in actual production
Providing design opportunities for new entrants to the semiconductor market. This opens the door to starting projects without purchasing IP licenses when designing Arm-based SoCs.
On the 17th, Arm announced 'Arm Flexible Access'. With Flexible Access, Arm has further expanded the ways in which existing and new partners can access and license Arm technology for semiconductor designs.
Arm Flexible Access Components
<Source: Arm.com>
A new contract model, Flexible Access, allows SoC design teams to start projects without purchasing IP licenses and only pay for the IP they use in production.
Flexible access allows companies to empower design teams to experiment, evaluate, and innovate more freely.
Partners including Nordic Semiconductor, AlphaICs, and Invecas have already signed Arm Flexible Access agreements, giving them access to Arm's extensive IP portfolio, support tools, and training.
Flexible Access complements existing Arm licensing agreements and is the optimal option for partners looking to leverage Arm's full product portfolio and cutting-edge IP. The differences between Arm's latest contract models can be found on the Arm website.
Typically, partners must purchase a license for each IP from Arm and pay a fee to use the relevant technology.
However, partners who have signed a flexible access agreement can immediately access various IPs by paying only a certain access fee, and only have to pay license fees and per-shipment royalties when actual production begins.
The portfolio includes all the key IPs and tools required for SoC design, enabling partners to more easily evaluate projects and build prototypes utilizing various IP blocks before purchasing licenses.
How Arm Flexible Access Works
<Source: Arm.com>
Flexible Access gives partners access to the majority of Arm-based processors across the Cortex A, R, and M families, representing 75% of new Cortex CPU licenses announced in the last two years.
Additionally, Arm TrustZone and Cryptocell security IPs, Mali GPUs, and tools and models related to system IP, SoC design, and early software development are available.
Additionally, Arm's global support and training services are included.
Arm IPG (Intellectual Property G)“Flexible Access was developed to capture the opportunities of a world where a trillion devices will need to be securely connected,” said Rene Haas, CEO of Arm. “By first making IP available without restrictions and then only licensing the IP used in production, Arm is empowering our existing customers and new entrants to seize growth opportunities in areas like IoT, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, and 5G.”
A full list of IPs included in Arm Flexible Access can be found on
the Arm website .
