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8051 core vs Arm or other

Jeremy Coppin
Intellectual 270 points

Hi 

Does anyone know the thought process behind TI's decision to use an 8051 core instead of an ARM core. Why mate such outdated technology with such cutting edge stuff as the BLE? 

The compilers and tools for 8051 are also prohibitively expensive whereas the ARM core has high quality free tools available.

The ARM core also allows almost limitless future expansion without impacting the source code too severely.

Just wondering..

Best regards

Jeremy

  • TI__Genius 14940 points

    Although I cannot explain the actual reasoning behind this process (as I was not consulted during these times), I suspect it was much more of a familiarity issue with the ChipCon designers more than anything else.  It just makes sense to use what you are familiar with and understand how to work with when you are starting out, which at the time of these design choices, ChipCon was a fledgling company and had not yet been acquired by TI.  Once the choice had been made, legacy issues become part of all future designs as well.  The unfortunate fact is that choices are not always made for engineering purposes but also for business purposes and in that regard time to market has a huge influence on design choices.

    That said, TI is looking at ARM in future generations of LPRF radios.  All I can say is to keep watching the press releases.

    Regards,

    Jim Noxon