ARM7 processor family (embedded processor family) - Nanocdac

The ARM7 processor family has been introduced in 1994, and has helped establish ARM as the architecture of choice in the digital world. Over the years, more than 10 billion ARM7 processor family-based devices have powered a wide variety of cost and power-sensitive applications.

While the ARM7 processor family continues to be used today for simple 32-bit devices, newer embedded designs are increasingly making use of latest ARM processors such as the Cortex™-M0 and Cortex-M3 processors, both of which offer significant technical enhancements over the ARM7 family.

Design migration from the ARM7

The ARM7 family is the world's most widely used 32-bit embedded processor family, with more than 170 silicon licensees and over 10 Billion units shipped since its introduction in 1994.

While the ARM7 processor family continues to be used today for simple 32-bit devices, newer digital designs are increasingly making use of the newer, more powerful and feature-rich ARM processors which offer significant technical enhancements over the ARM7 family.

System designers wishing to upgrade from ARM7 benefit from a robust ARM processor roadmap providing multiple upgrade options, including the latest Cortex processors.

In most cases migration is straightforward, and brings significant benefits in PPA, features and efficiency.

The table below presents the most common upward migration paths for adapting current ARM7 based designs for the next generation.

Current processor	Upgrade driver	Alternative ARM processors	Benefits of upgrading
ARM7TDMI-S	Application upgrade	ARM926EJ-S, ARM968E-S, Cortex-A Series	Higher performance More features
		Cortex-R Series	Better determinism for real-time processing Higher performance More features
	Socket upgrade	Cortex-M0	1/3rd the silicon area 3x power savings Flexible, powerful and fully deterministic interrupt handling Higher code density Simplified software development
		Cortex-M3	Higher performance Superior efficiency and flexibility Flexible, powerful and fully deterministic interrupt handling Low power modes Higher code density Simplified software development
ARM7EJ-S	Application upgrade	ARM926EJ-S	Higher performance More features