Microsemi Audio Processing Unit Development Case Study

This case study details Microsemi's development of an audio processing unit for IoT applications, focusing on their transition from an off-the-shelf core to a customizable RISC-V processor solution. Microsemi aimed to replace an existing Cortex-M processor with a low-cost, low-power alternative that could support echo-cancellation algorithms while minimizing manufacturing costs. The Codasip L30 processor core, along with the Codasip Studio customization toolset, was selected to meet these requirements. The study outlines the iterative design process, where Microsemi explored various instruction set architectures, including the addition of custom DSP instructions to enhance performance. The results demonstrated significant improvements in throughput and power efficiency, achieving a 56.24× increase in performance over the baseline design. The final processor core met the necessary specifications for audio processing in IoT devices without requiring advanced manufacturing processes.