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Groups > comp.arch.embedded > #26915

Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave

Subject Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave
Newsgroups comp.arch.embedded
References (19 earlier) <oicmbr$qh7$1@dont-email.me> <oidgfv$fa$1@dont-email.me> <oie7at$h6f$1@dont-email.me> <mUx2B.4296$C96.3462@fx01.am4> <oiee0s$8p9$1@dont-email.me>
From Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk>
Message-ID <lSA2B.12416$hc7.5082@fx41.am4> (permalink)
Organization virginmedia.com
Date 2017-06-21 21:41 +0100

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On 21/06/17 19:34, rickman wrote:
> Tom Gardner wrote on 6/21/2017 1:19 PM:
>> On 21/06/17 17:40, rickman wrote:
>>> David Brown wrote on 6/21/2017 6:10 AM:
>>>> Yes, you basically have a SERDES system for each of the I/O pins, and a
>>>> whole array of hardware timers that can trigger the transfers.
>>>
>>> I think we are starting to see why the XMOS devices are so expensive, very
>>> extensive dedicated hardware.  Too bad they don't have a few programmable
>>> digital blocks that can actually do something useful.
>>
>> The SERDES and timers are very simple, so I'm unconvinced
>> they are the reason for any perceived expense.
>>
>> Have a look in the "ports" reference I previously gave you
>> https://www.xmos.com/published/xs1-ports-introduction?version=latest
>> You will see that the
>>   - SERDES is only a shift register plus buffer register,
>>   - each /port/ timer is only 16 bits and is constantly
>>     ticking, plus a register and comparator to enable
>>     timed i/o
>>   - there's a pinseq/pinsneq register and comparator
>>
>> Scarcely enough to dominate the chip area, especially when
>> you consider the memory and xCONNECT switch fabric.
>
> So there is the equivalent of three 16 bit
> counter/timer/comparator/shifter/whatever for *each* port pin?  That may not
> dominate the chip area, but it is going to add up fast.  I'll bet it is larger
> than a set of fixed peripherals in low end MCUs that can be sold for $1.  Just
> how much logic do you think is in an SPI port?

No.

Read the reference supplied; the relevant bits are
only 9 pages - and are in clear and simple English.


>> Without knowledge, my guess is that the switch fabric will
>> have a far larger area than the port logic, just as in FPGAs
>> the interconnects are far larger than the IO cells.
>
> Xilinx used to say they sell you the routing and give the logic away for free.
> What's your point?  How do FPGAs come into the cost basis of the XMOS?

It is the same principals and cost drivers at work. Your
comment indicates you/Xilinx see the similarity.


> The real issue is that they just can't compete in the low price end of MCUs
> where I feel they would be most useful.

... to you.

> But they have their niche and I guess
> they aren't going anywhere soon.  I wonder what it would take for the XMOS
> concept to be scaled up to cover more at the high end?

A key decision for /all/ businesses is where /not/ to compete.

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Thread

MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> - 2017-06-14 10:44 -0700
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-06-14 16:30 -0700
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-14 21:54 -0400
    Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 08:01 +0100
      Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 12:13 -0400
        Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 18:01 +0100
          Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 16:52 -0400
            Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 23:37 +0200
              Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 18:15 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-16 09:25 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-16 13:52 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-18 22:56 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 00:21 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 09:02 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 08:36 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 14:47 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 09:23 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 15:34 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-20 00:16 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 09:49 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-20 22:44 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-21 12:10 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-21 12:40 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-21 18:19 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-21 14:34 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-21 21:41 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-21 17:14 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave edward.ming.lee@gmail.com - 2017-06-21 13:54 -0700
            Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 23:33 +0100
              Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 23:12 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-16 07:05 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-16 02:27 -0400
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tim Wescott <seemywebsite@myfooter.really> - 2017-06-14 23:17 -0500
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 08:03 +0100
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 09:14 +0200
    Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 08:25 +0100
      Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 10:02 +0200
        Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2017-06-15 16:25 +0800
          Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 10:32 +0200
            Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2017-06-15 21:48 +0800
          Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 10:09 +0100
        Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 09:41 +0100
          Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 13:04 +0200
            Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 12:31 +0100
              Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-15 14:20 +0200
            Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 17:46 -0400
              Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-16 13:21 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-16 13:55 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-16 16:34 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-16 15:40 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 00:47 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-21 15:47 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-21 19:15 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-21 15:50 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-21 19:16 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-21 18:00 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-22 11:24 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-22 12:12 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-16 14:22 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 03:15 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 00:54 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 10:30 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave albert@cherry.spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2017-06-19 12:54 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 13:49 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 09:28 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 09:19 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 16:23 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-19 23:57 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 12:36 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-20 08:20 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2017-06-19 14:44 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave albert@cherry.spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2017-06-19 21:39 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Cecil Bayona <cbayona@cbayona.com> - 2017-06-19 14:59 -0500
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave albert@cherry.spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2017-06-20 09:25 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Cecil Bayona <cbayona@cbayona.com> - 2017-06-20 11:50 -0500
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2017-06-20 12:37 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-19 22:59 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-20 00:12 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2017-06-20 10:25 +0300
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 10:44 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave dp <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2017-06-20 02:36 -0700
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-20 11:25 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2017-06-20 13:49 +0300
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-20 12:54 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2017-06-20 16:09 +0300
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-20 15:24 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-20 17:46 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 22:28 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-21 00:58 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-21 13:08 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 16:28 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 12:58 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 12:57 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2017-06-20 14:19 +0300
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 16:19 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2017-06-20 12:12 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 16:48 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Gerry Jackson <gerry@jackson9000.fsnet.co.uk> - 2017-06-20 21:16 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-20 23:15 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Gerry Jackson <gerry@jackson9000.fsnet.co.uk> - 2017-06-21 07:30 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-21 12:54 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2017-06-21 19:29 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-21 15:05 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-21 21:34 +0100
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2017-06-21 18:04 -1000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave albert@cherry.spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2017-06-22 10:26 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-22 11:56 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave stephen@mpeforth.com (Stephen Pelc) - 2017-06-22 09:20 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Wasell <from_usenet@wasell.eu> - 2017-06-22 14:02 +0200
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-22 11:59 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-22 11:58 -0400
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2017-06-22 08:19 +0000
                Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-19 09:53 +0100
        Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-06-15 10:16 +0100
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> - 2017-06-15 13:56 -0700
    Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-06-15 14:41 -0700
      Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> - 2017-06-15 15:08 -0700
        Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-06-16 11:34 -0700
    Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2017-06-15 18:20 -0400
    Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave edward.ming.lee@gmail.com - 2017-06-21 07:58 -0700
  Re: MCU mimicking a SPI flash slave Walter Banks <walter@bytecraft.com> - 2017-06-19 12:23 -0400

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