AndesCore™ N25F-SE

ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Compliant

AndesCore™ N25F-SE Overview

  • AndeStar™ V5 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), compliant to RISC-V technology
  • Floating point extensions
  • Andes extensions, architected for performance and functionality enhancements
  • 32-bit, 5-stage pipeline CPU architecture
  • 16/32-bit mixable instruction format for compacting code density
  • Branch prediction to speed up control code
  • Return Address Stack (RAS) to speed up procedure returns
  • Physical Memory Protection (PMP)
  • Flexibly configurable Platform-Level Interrupt Controller (PLIC) for supporting wide range of system event scenarios
  • Interrupt handling for real-time performance
  • Patented CoDense™ technology to further reduce code size

AndesCore™ N25F-SE is a 32-bit CPU IP core that supports ISO 26262 ASIL B level functional safety for automotive applications. Approved based on the functional safety assignments of a Safety Element Out-of-Context (SEooC), which includes the ISO 26262 compliant development process and the qualitative approach with respect to hardware safety analysis, N25F-SE is certified to be used in safety-related applications.

Based on AndeStar™ V5 architecture that incorporated RISC-V technology, N25F-SE is capable of delivering high per-MHz performance and operating at high frequencies with small gate count. It supports single and double precision floating point instructions, branch prediction for efficient branch execution, Instruction and Data caches, local memories for low-latency accesses, and ECC for memory error protection. Features also includes RISC-V Platform Level Interrupt Controller, AXI 64-bit or AHB 64/32-bit system bus, WFI mode for low power and power management, and JTAG debug interface. 

Functional Safety

  • For general-purpose control of embedded systems in automotive applications
  • Compliant with ISO 26262:2018 standard parts 2, 4 partly, 5, 8 and 9 for ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) B
  • Independent assessment and certification by SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH

Block Diagram

Development Tools

  • AndeSight™ Integrated Development Environment
  • ICE debugging hardware

Key Features and Performance

ISO 26262 Functional Safety

Key FeaturesBenefits
Certified according to ISO 26262:2018 edition series of standardsCompliant with the latest version of standards
Andes Technology Development Process certified by parts 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the standards for components up to ASIL DTo prevent systematic failures
AndesCore™ N25F-SE CPU IP certified by parts 2, 4 partly, 5, 8 and 9 of the standards in compliance with ASIL B requirementsTo prevent random hardware failures
Supporting internal and external safety mechanisms; including qualitative DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and quantitative FMEDA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Diagnostic Analysis) evaluationsFacilitate functional safety product integration and certification
Certified by SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, with DAkkS logoAudited independently by credible third-party certification body

AndeStar™ V5 Architecture

Key FeaturesBenefits
RISC-V RV32IMACFD Instructions
  • State-of-the art ISA from latest developments in computer architecture
  • Industry standard and open architecture
RISC-V single and double precision floating point instructionAccelerate the processing of high precision arithmetic
Andes Extended InstructionsAndes exclusive performance and functionality enhancements
16/32-bit mixable instruction formatFor compact code density
32 general-purpose registersFor better code size and performance
Machine (M) and User (U) Privilege levelsEmbedded systems with privilege protections

CPU Core

Key FeaturesBenefits
3.57 Coremark/MHz, 1.91 DMIPS/MHz*Superior performance-per-MHz
5-stage pipeline, with a full-cycle reserved for critical SRAM accessesSuperior performance-efficiency, while allowing for high speeds

Extensive branch prediction features

  • Branch Target Buffer (BTB): 64 or 256-entry
  • Branch History Table (BHT): 256-entry, with 8-bit branch history
  • Return Address Stack (RAS): 4-entry
  • Branch Target Buffer and Branch History Table to speed up control codes
  • Return Address Stack to speeds up procedure returns
Physical Memory Protection (PMP), 16 regionsBasic read/write/execute memory protection with minimum cost
StackSafe™ hardware stack protection
  • Easy identification of stack size threshold during development
  • Hardware error detection of stack overflow and underflow at runtime

Multiplier options

  • Fast multiplier: pipelined, 2-cycle
  • Small multipliers: producing 1 bit per cycle
Option to choose between speed and area according to application's requirements
QuickNap™ technologyFast power-down/wake-up support for caches

* AndeSight v500, DMIPS/MHZ follow Dhrystone’s no-inline ground rules, best performances 

Memory Subsystems

Key FeaturesBenefits

I-Cache & D-Cache

  • Size: 8KB to 32KB
  • Set associativity: I-cache 2-way , D-cache 4-way
  • Accelerating accesses to slow memories
  • Flexible cache configurations

ILM & DLM

  • Size: 16KB to 16MB, 4/8KB with 32KB up
  • SRAM type interface
  • Bus masters accesses by AHB slave port
  • For deterministic and efficient program execution
  • Flexible size selection to fit diversified needs
Soft-error protection: ECC for I-Cache and D-Cache, ILM and DLM with SRAM interfaceCode and data integrity protection
Bus master port: AXI with 64-bit data or AHB with 64 or 32-bit dataUser-selectable bus interface for optimal efficiency
Bus save port: AHB with 64 or 32-bit data, for ILM/DLM accessesEfficient data transfer between CPU and SoC masters
Core/bus clock ratio of N:1Simplified SoC integration

Platform-Level Interrupt Controller (PLIC)

Key FeaturesBenefits

Implements RISC-V PLIC specification

  • Up to 1023 PLIC interrupt sources
  • Up to 255 PLIC interrupt priority levels
  • Up to 16 PLIC interrupt targets
Allow individual interrupts to be serviced and prioritized without sharing

Debug Support

Key FeaturesBenefits
Implements RISC-V debug specificationsSupported by industry debug tool suppliers
JTAG Debug PortIndustry-standard support
Embedded Debug Module with up to 8 triggersFlexible configurations to tradeoff between gate count and debugging capabilities
Exception redirection supportEntering debugger upon selected exceptions without using breakpoints

Product Package

AndesCore™ N25F-SE with AE350 Platform

  • N25F-SE pre-integrated with PLIC, timer, debug module, and configurable AE350 AXI/AHB Platform
  • N25F-SE processor core certified for functional safety usage
  • Safety package for safety developments
  • AE350 platform for design references