By José Lourenço - Coordinator & Software Architect, Senior Staff Engineer at Sierra Wireless

1. PageSierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential 1
AirPrime goes multicore!
AirPrime goes multicore
José Lourenço | June 2013

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The industry’s most advanced architecture for
embedded wireless communications designed to
vastly simplify and accelerate the development
and deployment of M2M solutions
Sierra Wireless Introduces..
Sierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential 2

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Air Interfaces
• Quad-band 2G EDGE
• Fully compatible with 4G version for future migration
Integrated GNSS and eCall
• GPS, GLONASS
• Pan European eCall and ERA-GLONASS
3
AirPrime WP6 and AR6 Wireless Module
Sierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential
Software and audio
• Open application framework with embedded operating system:
Linux AR6330 / Open AT AR6220
• Advanced voice quality with AEC/NR according VDA
• Management Service via AirVantage M2M Cloud
Extensive set of interfaces
• Link: USB OTG, UART,CAN
• Digital: SPI, I2C, GPIO’s, Int, timers, EBI, SDIO
• Audio: MIC+SPK, I2S, PCM, buzzer
• Analogue: ADC, 1.8V out
• Input voltage: 3.4– 4.8V
Package
• Unified STAR LGA footprint
• 295 pads
Multicore architecture
Application core dedicated to customer:
• ARM926 (312 MHz) AR6330
• ARM926 (156MHz) AR6220
Automotive Grade
• Automotive-grade manufacturing (TS-16949 certified)
• Automotive quality processes (PPAP, 8D, FA)
& low target ppm rates
• Tolerance to extreme operating environments
including thermal shock cycles
Real-time and low-power core for CAN connectivity
• Dual power zone implementation
• Low power consumption processing core (Cortex M0 100MHz)
• Integrated 2xCAN LS/HS controllers
• BOSCH IP: version 2.0 A,B
The world’s first M2M
system on a chip
AirPrime®AR6xx0

4. PageSierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential 4
Sierra Wireless S6:
The World’s First M2M System-on-a-Chip
Ultra
low-power
processor
(ARM
Cortex-M0 )
Application
processor
(ARM 9)
2G EDGE
Modem
M2M
specific
interfaces

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S6 System-on-a-Chip
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The only chipset in the world targeted at M2M applications – integrating
the baseband, application processor and M2M-specific peripherals
Ultra Low Power Subsystem
• Dramatically reduces power
consumption when main
application processor not in
use
M2M-Specifc Peripherals
• CAN bus controllers (x2)
• USB (incl. Audio over USB)
• I2C
• SDIO
• Multiple UARTs
• I2S
• …etc.
Application Processor
• Based on ARM9, 312 Mhz
• Runs Linux application
framework
• Eliminates need for external
processor
Telecom Core
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Quad-band
• Voice + hands free
• In-band modem for
European eCall
• Embedded SIM support
• Jamming Detection
• Open AT support

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Up to three processors integrated
• Application Processor
• Run the main customer application
• Linux is the default Operating System
• ARM926 @ 312MHz
• Up to 330 DMIPS
• Low Power Processor
• Run the low power part of the customer application in order to
reach very low power consumption targets or very hard real
time constraints
• No Operating System is provided by default. Board Support
Package is provided by default
• CORTEX-M0 @ 32KHz to 100MHz
• Up to 90 DMIPS
• Telecom Processor
• Run the telecom function
• Open AT® is the Operating System
• ARM926 @ 156MHz
• Up to 100 DMIPS
Multiple core architecture
TELECOM
Processor
ARM926 @ 156 MHz
100 DMIPS
APPLICATION
Processor
ARM926 @ 312 MHz
330 DMIPS
LOW POWER
Processor
CORTEX-M0 @ 100 MHz
90 DMIPS

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Customer Linux Application(s) driving via logical communication devices the embedded EDGE modem and a Low Power
CAN Stack application based on a OSEK Real Time Operating System and a CAN driver
Cortex M0
ARM926 TEL ARM926 APP
MUX
UART SPI I2C User
Timer
MUX
Telecom
Devices
UART/
USB/
I2C/SPI
KBD/
GPIO
User
Timer
…..
USB
Host
OTG
SDIO CAN1
&2
BSP
RTK + Kernel
Telecom Stack
BSP
Communication &
system services
library
Linux Operating System
Application 1
Application 2
Application n
7Sierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential
Open AT
Application
Customer Application
based on OSEK API
Virtual communication ports
based on shared RAM
CAN driver
OSEK
RTOS Communication &
system services
library
Virtual communication ports
based on Dual Port RAM
Tri-Core Architecture - Overview

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Typical Tri-Core Modes (AR6x/WP6x mode)
The LOW POWER Processor, optimized for low power
consumption and real time execution, allows running
applications targeting ultra-low power consumption or requiring
hard real time processing.
APPLICATION
Processor
ARM926
@ 312 MHz
330 DMIPS
LOW
POWER
Processor
CORTEX-M0
@100MHz
90 DMIPS
TELECOM
Processor
ARM926
@156 MHz
100 DMIPS
OFF
SYSTEM CORE
APPLICATION
Processor
ARM926
@ 312 MHz
330 DMIPS
LOW
POWER
Processor
CORTEX-M0
@32KHz-50MHz
Up to 45 DMIPS
TELECOM
Processor
ARM926
@ 156 MHz
100 DMIPS
OFF
SYSTEM CORE
OFF

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Typical Tri-Core Modes (AR63x/WP63x mode)
The APPLICATION Processor is a high performance core for
execution of demanding applications. It is natively provided
with a Linux Operating System.
APPLICATION
Processor
ARM926
@ 312 MHz
330 DMIPS
LOW
POWER
Processor
CORTEX-M0
@100MHz
90 DMIPS
TELECOM
Processor
ARM926
@ 156 MHz
100 DMIPS
OFF
SYSTEM CORE
APPLICATION
Processor
ARM926
@ 312 MHz
330 DMIPS
LOW
POWER
Processor
CORTEX-M0
@100MHz
90 DMIPS
TELECOM
Processor
ARM926
@ 156 MHz
100 DMIPS
SYSTEM CORE

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AR6x/WP6x Power consomption versus
DMIPS
Sierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential
OFF
• M0
OFF
• TEL
OFF
• APP
ON
• M0
ON
• TEL
ON
• APP
Power
consomption
DMIPS
50 1900
ALARM Mode
ON
• M0
OFF
• TEL
OFF
• APP
ON
• M0
OFF
• TEL
OFF
• APP
LOW POWER PROCESSING Modes
PROCESSING Mode
156MHz
100µA ---
1mA ---
0.03
32KHz
100KHz-50MHz
10mA ---
100mA --
ON
• M0
ON
• TEL
OFF
• APP
PROCESSING Mode
312MHz
500+

11. Page 11Sierra Wireless Proprietary and Confidential
Thank you!