Allwinner Technology#A-Series 2
{{short description|Fabless semiconductor company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Allwinner Technology Co., Ltd
| logo = Allwinner.svg
| caption =
| native_name = 全志
| native_name_lang = zh
| type = Public
| traded_as = SHE:300458
| industry = Fabless semiconductors
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| foundation = {{Start date and age|2007}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| location =
| location_city = Zhuhai, Guangdong
| locations =
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| products = Integrated circuits
| services =
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| location_country = China
| homepage = {{URL|www.allwinnertech.com}}
| intl =
}}
Allwinner Technology Co., Ltd is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company specialized in mixed-signal systems on a chips (SoC). The company is headquartered in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
Since founded in 2007, Allwinner has released over fifteen SoC processors for use in Android-based tablets,{{cite web|last=Lin|first=Eric|title=Digitimes Research: China tablet SoC developers enjoy robust shipment growth in 2012|url=http://www.digitimes.com/Reports/Report.asp?datepublish=2012/11/20&pages=PD&seq=211|work=DigiTimes|date=20 November 2012 |publisher=DigiTimes Research|access-date=22 March 2013}} as well as smartphones, over-the-air OTT boxes, video camera systems, car DVRs, and car media players.{{cite web|title=Allwinner Technology Home Page |url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/ |publisher=Allwinner |access-date=2015-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101073308/http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/ |archive-date=2015-01-01 }}
In 2012 and 2013, Allwinner was the number one supplier in terms of unit shipments of application processors for Android tablets worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20130923PD220.html?chid=2&mod=3&query=ALLWINNER|title=Digitimes Research: Tablet AP shipments to China to rise 53% in 3Q13|date=23 September 2013 |publisher=Digitimes|access-date=Sep 23, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1287293|title=London Calling: Did Allwinner outsell Intel, Qualcomm?|publisher=eetimes|access-date=August 5, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-17/qualcomm-intel-threatened-as-allwinner-nabs-tablet-share.html|title=Qualcomm, Intel Threatened as Allwinner Nabs Tablet Share|date=2014-03-17|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2014-08-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140121PD208.html|title=Digitimes Research: China tablet-use application processor shipments continue growing in 4Q13|date=2014-01-21|publisher=DigiTimes|access-date=2014-08-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140402PD201.html|title=Digitimes Research: Tablet application processor shipments in China slip 2.7% in 1Q14|date=2014-04-01|publisher=DigiTimes|access-date=2014-05-24}} For Q2 2014, Allwinner was reported by DigiTimes to be the third largest supplier to the Chinese market after Rockchip and MediaTek.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140728PD201.html|title=Digitimes Research: China sees increased tablet AP shipments in 2Q14|date=2014-07-28|publisher=DigiTimes|access-date=2014-07-28}}
Product lines
= A-Series =
File:AllWinner A23 Dual-Core SoC.jpg
A series processors are used for mobile applications, mainly referring to tablet application.{{Cite web|url=http://linux-sunxi.org/Allwinner_SoC_Family|title=Allwinner SoC Family - linux-sunxi.org|website=linux-sunxi.org|access-date=2019-01-22}}
== A1x family ==
{{main|Allwinner A1X}}
In 2011, the company became an ARM processor licensee,{{cite web|url=http://www.arm.com/community/partners/display_company/rw/company/allwinner-technology-co-ltd/|title=ARM processor licensee|website=arm.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922041242/http://www.arm.com/community/partners/display_company/rw/company/allwinner-technology-co-ltd/|archive-date=2013-09-22}} and subsequently announced a series of ARM Cortex-A8 powered mobile application processors, including A10, A13 and A10s, which were used in numerous tablets, and also in PC-on-a-stick and media center devices. They have also been adopted in free hardware projects like the Cubieboard development board.
==A2x and A3x family==
In December 2012, Allwinner announced the availability of two ARM Cortex-A7 MPCore powered products, the dual-core Allwinner A20 and quad-core Allwinner A31. Production of the A31 started in September 2012 and end products, mostly high-end tablets from Chinese manufacturers, appeared on the market in early 2013, including the Onda V972. Allwinner was the first to make this ARM processor core available in mass production.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
In March 2013, Allwinner launched its quad-core Phablet processor A31s. Based on quad-core cortex-A7 CPU architecture, this processor allows 3G, 2G, LTE, WIFI, BT, FM, GPS, AGPS and NFC using a minimum of external components.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
In October, 2013, Allwinner released its second dual-core A23, touted to be "The most efficient dual core processor" for tablets.{{cite web|url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/news/compnews/246.html |title=A New Weapon in the Tablet Wars: Allwinner Announces the Ultra-Efficient Dual Core A23 Processor for Tablets |publisher=Allwinner |date=September 2013 |access-date=2015-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204021629/http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/news/compnews/246.html |archive-date=2015-02-04 }} The A23's CPU frequency was intended to run up to 1.5 GHz.{{cite web|url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/news/compnews/245.html |title=Allwinner Announces Stunning Specs for New 1.5GHz Dual Core A23 Processor |publisher=Allwinner |date=October 2013 |access-date=2015-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116040735/http://www.allwinnertech.com/en/news/compnews/245.html |archive-date=2015-01-16 }}
In June, 2014, Allwinner announced the A33 quad-core SoC that is pin compatible with Allwinner's A23. The new SoC features four Cortex-A7 cores with 256 KB L1 cache, 512 KB L2 cache and a Mali-400 MP2 GPU. A new feature is the support of the OpenMAX API.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/06/03/allwinner-a33-quad-core-soc-is-pin-to-pin-compatible-with-allwinner-a23/|title=AllWinner A33 Quad Core SoC is Pin-to-Pin Compatible with AllWinner A23|date=3 June 2014|access-date=June 11, 2014}} Allwinner has positioned the A33 for entry-level tablets, targeting quad-core tablets priced from $30 to $60, and in July 2014 announced that it had started mass production of the chip, which would supposedly sell for as low as $4 per unit.{{cite web|url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/plus/view.php?aid=407 |title=Allwinner A33, World's First $4 Quad Core Tablet Processor, Now in Mass Production |publisher=Allwinner |date=July 2014 |access-date=2014-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801150254/http://www.allwinnertech.com/plus/view.php?aid=407 |archive-date=2014-08-01 }}
== A5x family ==
In April 2019, Allwinner announced the A50 28 nm quad-core SoC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnx-software.com/2019/04/28/allwinner-tablet-soc-roadmap-2019-2020/|title=Allwinner Tablet SoC Roadmap 2019 - 2020|date=2019-04-28|website=CNXSoft - Embedded Systems News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}} The A50 features four Cortex-A7 cores running up to 1.8 GHz with 512 KB L2 cache and a Mali-400 MP2 GPU.
== A6x family ==
In June 2017, Allwinner announced the A63 28 nm quad-core SoC at APC 2017 Conference.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnx-software.com/2017/06/26/allwinner-a63-2k-flat-panel-soc-unveiled-at-apc-2017-conference/|title=Allwinner A63 2K "Flat Panel" SoC Unveiled at APC 2017 Conference|date=2017-06-26|website=CNXSoft - Embedded Systems News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}} The A63 features four Cortex-A53 cores running up to 1.8 GHz with 512 KB L2 cache and a Mali-T760 MP2 GPU with OpenGL ES 3.2 support. VPU with 4K/6K VP9, H.265, and H.264 4K @ 30 fps video decoder and H.264 HP encoder 1080P@30 fps
== A8x family ==
In October 2013, Allwinner disclosed its upcoming octa-core A80 SoC, featuring four high-performance ARM Cortex-A15 and four efficient ARM Cortex-A7 CPU cores in a big.LITTLE configuration.{{cite web|url=http://olimex.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/a80-octa-core-biglittle-soc-from-allwinner-will-be-ready-in-2014/|title=A80 Octa core BigLittle SoC from Allwinner will be ready in 2014|date=October 2013|publisher=olimex|access-date=Oct 1, 2013}}
On June 30, 2014, Chinese brand Onda officially released its octa-core Onda V989 tablet, which is based on Allwinner A80. This is the first Allwinner A80-based tablet that is available to consumers, priced at CNY 1099 (~US$177).{{cite web|url=http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/07/17/onda-v989-allwinner-a80-android-tablet-is-now-available-for-pre-order/|title=Onda V989 AllWinner A80 Android Tablet is Now Available for Pre-order|date=17 July 2014}}
In September 2014, Allwinner announced the Allwinner A83T, an octa-core tablet processor that packs eight highly energy-efficient Cortex-A7 cores that can run simultaneously at up to around 2.0 GHz. It also includes a PowerVR GPU. The first tablet with the chip was expected to hit the market in Q4 2014.{{cite web | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allwinners-a83t-a-heavyweight-octa-core-for-full-hd-tablets-273938041.html | title = Allwinner's A83T: a Heavyweight Octa-Core for Full HD Tablets | publisher = PR Newswire | date = 2014-09-04 | access-date = 2014-09-27}}
== A10x/20x/30x family ==
= F-Series =
File:TrekStor eBook Reader 3.0, CPU, FI E200 (6269946393).jpg
F series are processors based on Allwinner's melis OS, mainly used in smart video radios, video MP5, etc.
From 2007 to 2011, Allwinner introduced its F-series processors, including the F10, F13, F18, F20, F1E200, F1C100, and F20. This series runs Allwinner's in-house operating system Melis2.0, which is now mainly used in vehicle multimedia systems, E-ink readers, video intercom systems, and so on.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Sega's Game Gear Micro uses the F1C200S as main CPU.
= H-Series =
The H-series, introduced in 2014, are integrated application processors primarily targeted at OTT set-top box applications e.g. HDMI mini PCs, gaming boxes, etc.;
Allwinner has launched the A80 octa-core OTT box solution, targeting at high-end OTT box market, and launched the Allwinner H8 octa-core processor for mid-range OTT boxes, and most recently launched the quad-core Allwinner H3 targeting the US$35 - $50 OTT box market.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/12/08/allwinner-h3-4k-ott-tv-box/|title=Allwinner H3 is a Quad Core SoC for Sub $50 4K H.265 Media Players|date=8 December 2014|publisher=Allwinner|access-date=2015-01-02}}
= R-Series =
File:Clockwork GameShell (30287615107).png
The R ("Real-Time") Series Chip is designed for low power applications where timing is critical and must be done at the edge rather than in the fog or cloud.{{Cite book|url=https://linux-sunxi.org/images/c/ca/Allwinner_R16_User_Manual_V1.2.pdf|title=Allwinner R16 User Manual|last=Allwinner Technology Co.|first=Ltd.|publisher=Allwinner Technology Co., Ltd.|year=2016|edition=1.2}} The chip also has built in redundancies to meet industrial and automotive standards for processing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/k/keil/processors|title=ARM Processors {{!}} DigiKey|website=www.digikey.com|access-date=2019-01-22}}
The R Series Chip has been applicable to a number of different industries including Industrial Automation, Safe PLCs, Power Generation and Distribution, Healthcare and Automotive Technology. The technology, specifically the R16 Chip, has also been utilised for robotic vacuums, Nintendo Classic Mini systems and smart speakers resulting from a longterm partnership with the Cogobuy Group's subsidiary IngDan ({{lang|zh|硬蛋}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelescope.com/cogobuy-partners-with-allwinner-on-chip-localization-benefits-from-1-6-trillion-opportunities/141328|title=Cogobuy Partners with Allwinner on Chip Localization Benefits from 1.6 Trillion Opportunities|date=2018-04-23|website=The Daily Telescope|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-22}}
Cogobuy's preparatory K-system was used as the basis to add integrated SLAM modules with Allwinner chip's.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dbpower.com.hk/ch/news/news-finance-news-prnews/?uid=http://www.prnasia.comstoryarchive2272809_HK72809_0&page=|title=財經智珠網 DB Power - 免費股票報價 HK Free Stock Quote - 股票投資大市分析 Financial Information and Data|website=www.dbpower.com.hk|access-date=2019-01-22}} The technical advantages and patents Cogobuy held allowed for chip localisation of edge computing required for the AI room mapping and cleaning.{{Cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/cogobuy-announces-2018-interim-results-1027489935|title=Cogobuy Announces 2018 Interim Results {{!}} Markets Insider|last=GmbH|first=finanzen net|website=markets.businessinsider.com|access-date=2019-01-22}} The R40 and R16 technology has been implemented on a number of Banana Pi models.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/index.php?c=product&a=index&id=56|title=R40|website=www.allwinnertech.com|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.allwinnertech.com/index.php?c=product&a=index&id=51|title=R16|website=www.allwinnertech.com|access-date=2019-01-22}} The R8 Chip was also used for "The World's First Nine Dollar Computer" Kickstarter project in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598272670/chip-the-worlds-first-9-computer|title=CHIP - The World's First Nine Dollar Computer|website=Kickstarter|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}}
=V-Series=
The V-Series are video encoding processor targeting applications such as smart DVR, IP camera and smart home applications. It is similar to the A series SoC, but adds support for functions such as digital watermarking, motion detection and video scaling, as well as a CBR/VBR bit rate control mode.{{cite web|last1=cnxsoft|title=AllWinner V10 and V15 SoCs Target Video Recording Applications|url=http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/07/09/allwinner-v10-and-v15-socs-target-video-recording-applications/|website=cnx-software|date=9 July 2014 |access-date=9 July 2014}}
Chipset specifications
The Allwinner SoC family includes A-series, which is intended for Android OS, and F-series, which is intended for the company's self-developed Melis operating system.
The A-Series, including the A10, A20 and A31 SoCs, have a proprietary in-house designed multimedia co-processing DSP (Digital Signal Processing) processor technology for hardware accelerated video, image, and audio decoding, called CedarX (with subprocessing called "CedarV" for video decoding and "CedarA" for audio decoding), able to decode 2160p 2D and 1080p 3D video. The main disadvantages with CedarX technology and associated libraries is that Allwinner's own CedarX proprietary libraries have no clear usage license, so even if the source code for some versions is available the terms-of-use is unknown in open source software, and there is no glue code for any other multimedia frameworks on Linux systems that could be used as a middle-ware, like for example OpenMAX or VAAPI.
= A-Series =
The A-series are integrated application processors primarily targeting tablets as well as targeting mini PCs, development boards and TV boxes.
= H-Series =
The H-series, introduced in 2014, are primarily targeted at OTT set-top box applications.
= F-Series =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| SoC | CPU | Memory | Video Decoder | Video Encoder | Package | OS | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1C100 | rowspan="7" | ARM9 | SDR | rowspan="2" | 720p | N/A | LQFP128 | Melis 2.0 | Car MP5, Car Headrest, Visual Bombox, Visual Radio |
| F1C200s | SIP | MJPEG 720 @ 30 fps | QFN88 | Melis, Linux | Game Gear Micro | ||
| F1E200 | rowspan="4" | DDR | rowspan="5" | 1080p | N/A | eLQFP128 | rowspan="4" | Melis 2.0 | E-ink Reader, PMP | |
| F10 | N/A | rowspan="2" | LQFP176 | Multimedia Box, HD Player | ||||
| F13 | rowspan="2" |MPEG4 720p @ 30 fps | Car MP5 | |||||
| F18 | LQFP216 | Visual Intercom System | |||||
| F20 | DDR/DDR2 | H.264 1080p @ 30 fps | BGA400 | Car DVR, Multimedia Box, Mobile Karaoke |
= R-Series =
= T-Series =
Allwinner processor ecosystem
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2017}}
Allwinner Technology cooperates with around ten independent design houses (IDHs) based in Shenzhen, China, who develop solutions based on Allwinner processors. They include iNet Technology, Worldchip Digital Technology, Sochip Technology, Topwise Communication, ChipHD Technology, Highcharacter Science and Technology, WITS Technology, Ococci Technology, Next Huawen Technology, and Qi Hao Digital Technology.
Apart from the white-box market, Allwinner processors can also be found in many brand products, including HP, MSI, ZTE, NOOX, GoTab, Skyworth, MeLE, Polaroid, Micromax, Archos, Texet, Ainol, Onda, Ramos, Teclast, Ployer, Readboy, Noah, RF, Bmorn, Apical, Astro Queo, etc.
Free and open-source software support
Due to the low price of the A10 SoC, the fact that it has a special rescue mode, and the early availability of U-Boot and Linux kernel source (through several device makers), the Allwinner SoCs have been popular among open-source software developers. Since at least 2012 the linux-sunxi community has been one of the most active ARM SoC communities, and the slightly older hardware has only very minimal dependence on firmware or blobs.[https://linux-sunxi.org/ Sunxi Community website][https://fosdem.org/2014/schedule/event/arm_allwinner_sunxi_socs/ FOSDEM talk about the Sunxi Community] on the FOSDEM website.
Since 2014, Allwinner is also an official member of the Linaro group, a nonprofit engineering consortium aimed at developing open-source software for the ARM architecture.[http://www.linaro.org/news/linaro-announces-allwinner-technology-as-a-founding-member-of-the-new-linaro-digital-home-group/ Announcement of Allwinner membership] on Linaro news site. However, it has been noted that most of the contributions that Allwinner has made to the Linaro group has been in the form of binary blobs, which is in clear violation of the GNU GPL license that the Linux kernel uses.[http://linux-sunxi.org/GPL_Violations Allwinner GPL Violations].
Allwinner has been accused multiple times{{cite web |title=GPL Violations |url=http://linux-sunxi.org/GPL_Violations |access-date=2016-01-30 |publisher=linux-sunxi.org}} of violating the GPL license by not providing Linux/Android kernel source code or U-Boot source, and by using LGPL-licensed code within their binary blobs, etc.{{cite web |date=2015-03-19 |title=Allwinner Caught Obfuscating Their Improperly Licensed Code |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Allwinner-Obfuscating-Code |access-date=2016-01-30 |publisher=Phoronix}}
Allwinner has also been accused of including a backdoor in its published version of the Linux kernel.{{cite news |last1=Gallagher |first1=Sean |date=11 May 2016 |title=Chinese ARM vendor left developer backdoor in kernel for Android, "Pi" devices |url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2016/05/chinese-arm-vendor-left-developer-backdoor-in-kernel-for-android-pi-devices/ |access-date=11 May 2016 |publisher=Ars Technica}}{{cite news |last1=Chirgwin |first1=Richard |date=9 May 2016 |title=This is what a root debug backdoor in a Linux kernel looks like |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/09/allwinners_allloser_custom_kernel_has_a_nasty_root_backdoor/ |access-date=11 May 2016 |publisher=The Register}} The backdoor allows any installed app to have full root access to the system. While this may be a remnant of debugging during the development process, it presents a significant security risk to all devices using the Allwinner provided kernel.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Application ARM-based chips}}
{{Electronics industry in China}}
Category:Microprocessors made in China
Category:Fabless semiconductor companies
Category:Companies based in Zhuhai