EDN — 05.23.96 Embedded Systems

Embedded Systems: May 23, 1996

VMEbus board juggles dual processors.

Handling over 100 MIPS at 66 MHz, the Eurocom 27 is a scalable VMEbus single-board computer loaded with one or two Motorola 68060 processors. An internal branch cache and 8-kbyte instruction and data caches hone system performance. The board comes with as much as 4 Mbytes of flash EPROM. Mezzanine memory modules offer as much as 64 Mbytes of DRAM, as much as 4 Mbytes of additional flash EPROM, and as much as 4 Mbytes of battery-backed SRAM. Additionally, the E27 supplies a graphics interface, a 16-bit-wide SCSI-2 port, Ethernet interface, and serial and parallel I/O. Prices start at $3540. American Eltec Inc, Princeton, NJ. (609) 452-1555.

Software writes 68302 device-driver code.

A Windows-based software tool, DriveWay-302 generates device-driver source code in C for the MC68302 µP. DriveWay eliminates tedious coding of peripheral functions and the need to learn the details of each supported chip. Thus, the software tool can cut development time and hasten a product's time to market. DriveWay-302 costs $1995. Aisys Ltd, Petach Tikva, Israel. 972-3-9226860.

In-circuit emulator for Am186ES runs at 40 MHz.

Offering as many as 1 million hardware breakpoints, the UEM-186ES in-circuit emulator provides a 40-MHz development environment for Advanced Micro Devices' Am186ES embedded processor. Events are set using Boolean equations of virtually any form and complexity. The UEM-186ES comes with a 32-kbyte trace buffer, which displays data such as raw machine instructions, C-source code, or mixed-C and disassembled code. The UEM-186ES costs $8995, including a source-level debugger for Windows. Soft-aid Inc, Columbia, MD. (410) 290-7760.

Computer board harnesses C80's parallel processing.

The FT-C80 series of computing subsystems, based on the TMS320C80 DSP, processes 2G-operations/sec for demanding fixed-point DSP, image-processing, and real-time filtering applications. The board, which addresses as much as 128 Mbytes of DRAM, performs a 3×3 convolution on a 512×512&#@!%;8-bit image in 6.6 msec. The TMS320C80 consists of four parallel DSPs, plus a RISC master processor. In addition, a separate Intel i960 control processor manages operating-system functions, services interrupts, and controls bus traffic and data I/O. The FT-C80, available in PCI, VMS-, and ISA-bus versions, provides analog and digital frame grabbers that accept a wide range of input options. Prices start at $5990. Alacron, Nashua, NH. (603) 891-2750.

Programming environment speeds OS-9 based development.

Offered on both Windows and Unix platforms, FasTrak V2.0 is a software-programming and management environment that increases the efficiency of application development for the OS-9 real-time operating system. V2.0 adds support for 68060, PowerPC, and Pentium processors, as well as tools for debugging system code written in C and C++. FasTrak lets you debug both user and system state code, including kernel extensions, file-manager, and device drivers. The C and C++ versions for Windows cost $2850 and $3750, respectively, for a single-seat license. C and C++ Unix versions cost $14,500 and $19,250, respectively. Microware Systems Corp, Des Moines, IA. (515) 224-1929.

VMEbus industrial PC offers Pentium options.

Based on the 3U VMEbus form factor, the VC5 PC-compatible single-board computer gives you a choice of processors yielding SPEC-int92 and SPECfp92 ratings from 85 to 170 and 60 to 125, respectively. You can choose a Pentium processor running at 75 to 150 MHz or the 3.3V P6 Overdrive chip. The VC5 accommodates 8 to 128 Mbytes of extended-data-out (EDO) DRAM with hyper-page-mode and 64-bit-wide access, as much as 16 Mbytes of flash ROM, and 1 Mbyte of SRAM. Expansion is through PC/104 or PCI connectors. Graphics options include onboard VGA with a Windows accelerator and an LCD flat-panel interface or a PCI-mezzanine-card (PMC) module, which offers 1280×1024-pixel noninterlaced resolution with 256 colors. Prices start at $2080 (OEM). Or Industrial Computers, Mission Viejo, CA. (714) 855-3235.

Library speeds TMS-320C80 development.

An image-processing library contains >100 optimized algorithms for the TMS-320C80, a device that packs four programmable DSPs, an RISC master processor, 50 kbytes of SRAM, and a DMA controller on a single chip. You can use the library and objects as functional building blocks to accelerate application development. Also available is a real-time C80 kernel and the ProtoPIPE graphical programming environment, which consists of a visualization tool set, library, and design canvas. The host-independent C80 library costs $4500. General Imaging Corp, Billerica, MA. (508) 262-2262.

Interconnect adapter links PC nodes over SCbus.

The SCxbus Adapter provides internode connectivity using the 1024 bidirectional time slots of the SCbus to distribute an application across multiple PC nodes. Used for call-center management and telemarketing, the adapter works with a 512-port multinode system and connects as many as 16 nodes within a 15m distance. A fault-tolerant clocking scheme continuously monitors the bus interface for clock, frame, and data integrity. The SCxbus Adapter costs $1795. Dialogic Corp, Parsippany, NJ. (201) 993-3000.

RTOS builds PowerPC-based applications.

Version 2.0 of the OS-9 real-time operating system for the PowerPC offers a scalable architecture that can be applied to small embedded devices, as well as large networked systems. OS-9's modularity allows system and application modules to be dynamically loaded while the system is up and running. The OS-9 for PowerPC Developer's Package contains a set of system software modules from which standard configurations can be built for distribution. Prices range from $6000 to $8000. Microware Systems Corp, Des Moines, IA. (515) 224-1929.

Emulation system targets 68-HC05/HC08-based designs.

The Modular Evaluation System (MMEVS) is a two-board emulation environment for designing, debugging, and evaluating the 68HC(7)05 and 68HC(7)08 families of microcontrollers. The system provides real-time, nonintrusive in-circuit emulation for both the high-speed and low-voltage derivatives of each family. In addition to source-level debugging, the MMEVS offers fast downloads, 64 hardware breakpoints, and enhanced scripting for automatic execution of command sequences. The MMEVS platform board costs $395; device-specific emulation modules range from $295 to $595. Motorola Microcontroller Technologies Group, Austin, TX. (512) 328-2268.

ICE debugs programs for i960 Hx processors.

The CodeTAP 960 Hx is a small-form-factor in-circuit emulator (ICE) for the i960 H-Series of µPs. The device operates at the processor's full 75-MHz speed. The CodeTAP development environment includes a multiwindowed graphical C/C++ debugger that runs on Sun4, HP 9000/700, and PC platforms; an 8-kbyte trace memory; up to 1 Mbyte of overlay memory; breakpoint capability; and seamless Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Prices start at $7900 for a basic Windows-hosted system. Applied Microsystems Corp, Redmond, WA. (206) 882-2000.

Fixed-point C/C++ compilers work with DSP568xx.

These C and C++ compilers and debuggers for Motorola's DSP568xx 16-bit fixed-point processors let you work in a high-level language on a low-cost DSP. With features such as fractional data types, the tools yield a powerful development environment for building DSP applications on either PC or Sun platforms. Prices start at $2495 for PC-hosted systems. Tartan Inc, Monroeville, PA. (412) 856-3600.

Standards-based kernel speeds DSP development.

Unison/nano is a small core kernel for embedded processors and DSPs. The device implements a Posix threads programming model that supports semaphores, queues, and rendezvous, as well as a range of clock, timer, and memory functions. Routines for communication and link ports and for DMA are available, as are uniprocessor and multiprocessor programming models. The kernel supports TMS320C3x, TMS320C4x, and MK68K processors. Versions that support the ADSP-21060, PowerPC, and MIPs 3000 are scheduled for the second and third quarters. Pricing depends on the processor and peripheral costs. Multiprocessor Toolsmiths Inc, Kanata, ON, Canada. (613) 599-6565.

Front-panel controller IC uses ASCII interface.

Communicating by high-level ASCII messages, the IQC810 IC controls front-panel functions, including a 32-character, seven-segment LED display, dual LCDs, a 1234 matrix keyboard, 48 switches, a programmable tone generator, eight quadrature rotary encoders, and custom peripherals. The device, which implements the ObjectLink protocol, requires just two general-purpose port pins for I/O and uses state rotation, rather than dedicated clock and data signals, for information transfer. The IQC810 achieves data rates of 30 to 50 kbps, even when working with 8-bit controllers, such as the 8051 and 6805. The IC costs $6.95 (1000). IQ Systems Inc, Newtown, CT. (203) 270-8667.

Processor module teams with customizable I/O board.

Comprising an I/O-independent processor module and a selection of standard or custom baseboards, the ThunderBolt system provides a compact form factor for building scalable embedded applications. The processor module is a 5-in.2 board that gives you a choice of an MCF5102 ColdFire, MC68060, or MC68040 CPU and up to 128 Mbytes of DRAM and 512 kbytes of SRAM. Standard 6U baseboards offer serial, Ethernet, SCSI-2, VMEbus, and customizable busless I/O options, as well as up to 4 Mbytes of flash memory. Prices start at $199 for a ColdFire ThunderBolt (OEM qty). (Custom I/O baseboards are free for quantities >500.) General Micro Systems, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (909) 980-4863.

Ada compiler generates code for Pentium processor.

Uses for the DDC-I Ada cross-compiler system (DACS) include Pentium-specific code generation. The integer instruction-scheduling algorithm focuses on instruction pairing and eliminating stalls. Using the U and V pipes of the Pentium processor allows execution of two instructions in parallel, which doubles speed. DACS also offers segmented protected mode and unsegmented flat mode. Although the former provides optimum data security, the latter provides better performance with a more relaxed security scheme. Prices for compilers start at $21,000. DDC-I Inc, Phoenix, AZ. (602) 275-7172.

Emulator for 8xC196 fits on PC card.

Consisting of a pod board and a small ISA-bus plug-in board connected by a 5-ft cable, this low-cost version of the EMUL196-PC in-circuit emulator allows high-level debugging of Intel's 8xC196 processor. You can perform real-time emulation at the processor's maximum speed and control it through a Windows-based interface. The EMUL196/LC costs $995. A PCMCIA version, the EMUL196/PCC, is offered for laptops at the same price. Nohau Corp, Campbell, CA. (408) 866-1820.

Probe permits emulation of PowerPC 603 chip.

A processor probe for the Motorola PowerPC 603 lets you download code, set breakpoints, access memory and register displays, and modify memory contents, as well as execute individual portions of code to ensure the proper operation of associated hardware. Combining the probe with an HP logic analyzer, an HP E2455A preprocessor, and an HP 3740A software analyzer results in a coordinated debugging system that includes logic analysis with source-code referencing, timing measurements, and run control. The HP E3494A PowerPC 603 processor probe costs $3995. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 1496.

VME64 engine uses 110-MHz microSPARC II CPU.

Designed under a license from Sun Microsystems, the SPARC 5/64-2S2E is a VMEbus and I/O-extended version of Sun's SPARC 5 workstation. The board, which offers 77 SPECint92 and 65.97 SPECfp92 ratings, combines a 110-MHz microSPARC II processor with VME64, Ethernet, and SCSI-2 interfaces and error-correction-code memory. With data transfers of up to 38 Mbytes/sec over the VMEbus, the SPARC 5/64-2S2E's 64-bit-wide data path significantly improves I/O performance. Prices start at $6995. Themis Computer, Pleasanton, CA. (510) 734-0870.

Pentium single-board computer offers dual-bus expansion,

SCSI controller. Equipped with expansion interfaces for both the ISA and PCI bus, the Tigershark passive-backplane CPU board comes with a Pentium processor running at speeds of up to 166 MHz and an onboard SCSI controller. Using the Symbios SCSI chip not only saves a slot in the backplane, but also enables the Tigershark to transfer data at asynchronous rates of 5 Mbps and synchronous rates of 10 Mbps. Shrouded headers accommodate two RS-232C serial ports and one parallel port. DRAM options give you up to 256 Mbytes of storage. Prices start at $2375 with a 100-MHz CPU and no DRAM. I-Bus, San Diego, CA. (619) 974-8400.