The CEVA-X1 IoT processor features a single core DSP+CPU architecture, designed to address the size, power and cost limitations of applications using LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1 standards as well, as future FeMTC and 5G cellular IoT use cases.
Michael Boukaya, general manager of CEVA’s wireless business unit, said: “The CEVA-X1 is a first-of-its-kind processor, custom designed to address the unique and diverse needs of connecting the IoT ecosystem. Our deep knowledge in cellular and wireless connectivity allowed us to develop the industry’s lowest power processor for cellular IoT, and ensure outstanding performance for any other IoT related standard.”
The core is also said to serve as a multi purpose, multimode processing hub for a range of IoT workloads, including Wi-Fi 802.11n, 802.11ac, Bluetooth/BLE, Zigbee/Thread, LoRa, SIGFOX, narrowband voice, GNSS and sensor fusion. Capable of handling multiple processing workloads simultaneously, the core is said to offer developers the flexibility to tailor their system to meet particular requirements.
According to CEVA, the X1 processor has been benchmarked at 3.3 CoreMark/MHz, which it says is on par with the ARM® Cortex-M4, which achieves 3.4 CoreMark/MHz. This, the company notes, eliminates the need for a separate CPU core in the system.
