The access times of on-chip Flash memories usually limit the maximum speed of microcontrollers. This article explains how Philips solved this problem for their new ARM core-based LPC2100 microcontroller family, targeted at the 16/32-bit market of embedded real-time applications. Featuring a 128-bit wide zero-wait state flash memory, the parts operate at 60 MHz, reaching 54 Dhrystone MIPs. The use of the ARM7TDMI-S core with Real-Time Monitor and Real-Time Trace enables the customer to take advantage of broad industry support for the core with currently available software applications and tools from third party vendors. Also a real customer application is shown, which demonstrates the optimization of a system using these new microcontrollers.

Reprinted in its entirety from ARM IQ Vol. 3, No. 2