EDA Blog » Microcontrollers

IAR KickStart Kit for NXP LPC1114 Microcontroller

Ken Cheung — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:53:46 +0000

IAR Systems introduced the IAR KickStart kit for NXP LPC1114. The IAR KickStart Kit includes a development board fitted with the LPC1114 microcontroller, an 8K KickStart edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM, and a 20-state evaluation edition of IAR visualSTATE. IAR KickStart Kit for LPC1114 is priced at $139 (€ 100). According to IAR Systems, this might be the world’s first commercial starter kit for ARM Cortex-M0-based microcontrollers.

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Viosoft Android Adoption Kit for MIPS Digital Multimedia Designs

Ken Cheung — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:18:29 +0000

Viosoft launched the Android Adoption Kit for MIPS-Based digital multimedia designs. The Android Adoption Kit includes Sigma Designs’ Vantage 8654 Development Platform, the Viosoft Arriba IDE/Debugger, access to the latest Android on MIPS and Linux source code from the MIPSAndroid community portal, and online support from Viosoft. The Android Adoption Kit is available now and is priced at $995 (US). For the first 100 customers, Viosoft will discount the full purchase price toward the purchase of the Viosoft Arriba Embedded Linux Edition, or the Android Porting Kit for professional users.

Arriba for Android Porting Kit for the MIPS

Ken Cheung — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:17:43 +0000

MIPS Technologies introduced the Arriba for Android Porting Kit (APK) for the MIPS architecture. With the Arriba APK, OEMs can quickly tailor and optimize Android for specific platforms. The Arriba APK is available now. The Arriba APK includes the first year of development tool maintenance, along with 60 days of support from Viosoft. Viosoft’s Arriba tools support single and multi-core platforms, providing support for any MIPS-based Android target. All MIPS processors are supported, from MIPS architecture licensees’ designs to MIPS’ complete offering of licensable cores including the 1004K coherent processing system.

IAR Embedded Workbench Supports TI 4th Gen Stellaris Microcontrollers

Ken Cheung — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:00:49 +0000

IAR Embedded Workbench® for ARM® and IAR PowerPac for ARM now supports the fourth generation of Texas Instruments’ ARM Cortex[tm] -M3-based Stellaris® microcontroller (MCU) family. IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM is a set of sophisticated and easy-to-use development tools. It incorporates an ARM Cortex-M3 C/C++ compiler, assembler, linker, librarian, text editor, project manager, and debugger combined in an integrated development environment (IDE) for programming embedded applications.

Evatronix T8051 Microcontroller IP Core

Ken Cheung — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:04:28 +0000

Evatronix SA recently introduced the T8051 IP Core, which is the smallest microcontroller that implements Intel 8051 Instruction Set Architecture. The design has one of the best performance-to-size ratios on the market. The T8051 IP core is available for licensing now. Standard deliverables include various sets of scripts for trouble-free synthesis and simulation as well as an extensive Verilog 2001 testbench, while the proprietary prototyping environment can be purchased as an option.

With the CPU’s 2700 gates, the T8051 is ideal for IC designers who want to make use of complete 8-bit architecture functionality while substantially reducing the size of their systems. The lowest possible gate count is especially valuable for engineers working with mixed signal designs implemented in older processes with larger feature sizes, where the silicon area is a significant factor.

The T8051 makes it possible to replace hard-coded control FSM with a programmable microcontroller, which was hard to reach with a significant difference in gate count between the two solutions.

Despite its tiny size, the T8051 is a powerful 8-bit microcontroller. Instruction cycle latency has been tuned to minimize hardware resources, however, the core still performs 4.1 times better than the original Intel 8051 in terms of Dhrystone MIPS per MHz. Communication with both built-in and external memories has been accelerated by de-multiplexing the address and data buses, while alternate port functions such as external interrupts and serial interface are available on separate pins – all this to give the user a possibility to connect and effectively manage a greater number of peripheral devices.

More info: Evatronix

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Microchip MASTERs Conference

Ken Cheung — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:02:57 +0000

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MCHP) will hold their Worldwide MASTERs Conference at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. The main conference will take place from July 23-26 and a pre-conference on July 21 and 22, 2008. The MASTERs Conference offers design engineers a forum for sharing and exchanging technical information on the company’s 8-, 16- and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers, high-performance analog and interface solutions, 16-bit dsPIC digital signal controllers (DSCs), KEELOQ security devices, memory products, and MPLAB development systems — including the industry’s only singular IDE to support an entire 8-, 16- and 32-bit microcontroller portfolio.

The conference is ideal for designers who are looking for solutions to embedded-control challenges or in-depth education on Microchip’s products. Design engineers and engineering managers benefit from the conference by learning about solutions and interfacing with the Microchip architects and developers. Engineers graduating from the MASTERs program are equipped to go out and use Microchip products to their full advantage. The conference courses, a 1G Flash Drive with all class materials, and three-night accommodations with meals and evening entertainment are included in the conference cost of $1,295 USD, with all payments due by July 18th, 2008.

MASTERs is an in-depth, bi-directional exchange of technical information between Microchip experts and the company’s technical partners, including consultants, customers, third parties, distributor FAEs and design houses. Topics presented cover a broad range of subjects, from board layout topologies to real-life reference designs and embedded applications.

MASTERs classes cover the gamut of electronic engineering topics, including hands-on sessions offering instruction for object-oriented programming of PIC microcontrollers and how to do battery authentication, courses on designing LED and LCD display systems, and classes on how to add Ethernet, USB and ZigBee(tm) protocol communication to embedded designs. In addition, there are hands-on workshops that show how to create intelligent power supplies, motor control and how to take full advantage of the dsPIC DSC for speech-processing applications.

Microchip is also offering a two-day pre-conference for those who wish to attend as many classes as possible during the week. These classes are designed for beginner and advanced attendees. For example, “Introduction to Embedded Programming Using C” is a two-day, 16-hour step-by-step crash course in C, with practical hands-on exercises.

More info: MASTERs Conference

10 Years, 10 Lessons: A View from the Multiprocessing Trenches

Ken Cheung — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:44:25 +0000

QNX Software Systems is offering a webinar titled, “10 Years, 10 Lessons: A View from the Multiprocessing Trenches.” The one-hour webcast will take place on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. The online seminar may be of interest to embedded software development managers, architects, and developers who are considering or who are using a multi-core processor for an upcoming project.

Overview

Do you know what you want to achieve with multi-core processing? Are you making the most out of the processor cores in your embedded designs? Whether you have migrated to a multi-core or are still investigating strategies, tune in to this session to hear Kerry Johnson and Robert Craig explore multi-core technology based on their 35 years of combined experience in the industry.

In this web seminar, Kerry Johnson shares the insights gained from QNX Software System’s 10 years of experience in symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) for embedded systems. Kerry argues that adopting a multi-core processor does not have to be an arduous task. The programming approaches are, in fact, well established and within the ability of most embedded software developers today. The real key is to know what you want to accomplish, where to start, and to follow proven, experience-based practices that prevent the “gotchas” and ensure maximum scalability. Join Kerry as he shares 10 lessons learned that will help ensure the success of your next multi-core project.

Robert Craig will then take you through the new QNX developer portal, where there is a description of the key functions used to handle SMP system bring up and inter-processor co-operation, development tools, forums and more to enable migration to multi-core processing.

More information: QNX Software Systems Webinar

Webcast: Selecting the Best Microcontroller for a Mechatronic Design

Ken Cheung — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:56:07 +0000

Freescale Semiconductor has an on-demand webcast entitled, “Microcontroller Choices & Answers: Selecting the Best Microcontroller for a Mechatronic Design.”

Overview

Mechanical systems interact with the world around them in various ways. When there’s electronics and firmware involved, it’s important to choose the best microncontroller available for the job at hand. Join our moderator and his experienced guest from Freescale, so you can make smarter processor selection decisions.

The webinar will cover:

The types of features available in modern microntrollers
The importance of software development tool availability
The significance of code-compatible families of related parts
How to select the best fit microcontroller for use in your system

More info: Selecting the Best Microcontroller for a Mechatronic Design

Webcast: When Should a Mechanical System Compute?

Ken Cheung — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:01:23 +0000

Freescale Semiconductor has an on-demand webcast entitled, “Microcontroller Choices and Answers: When Should a Mechanical System Compute?”

The webinar will cover:

The benefits of an embedded processor and software in a mechanical system
When a purely mechanical system design is sufficient and/or superior
When discrete electronics would be sufficient vs. a microprocessor
How to decide if a part of your system design should be in electronics

World Markets for Microcontrollers in Automotives

Ken Cheung — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:15:56 +0000

According to Frost & Sullivan, the proliferation of electronic content in automobiles aimed at reducing human errors as well as the growing number of automobile safety features such as additional radars, ultra sonic sensors, cameras, and automatic parking assistance are increasing demaind for microcontrollers. In addition, the introduction of multiplexing in the automotive industry has triggered sales of high performance microcontrollers by amplifying the need for additional processing power and intelligence. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, the automotive microcontroller market generated revenues of $5.83 billion in 2006 and will reach $9.52 billion in 2010.

Other findings of the World Markets for Microcontrollers in Automotives report include:

The sales growth for hybrids and electric vehicles will likely drive the microcontroller market.
Increasing automobile sales, especially in the Asian sub continent, will drive the microcontrollers market to greater heights.
The oil crisis and pollution control have forced power train applications to include stringent methods for controlling emissions and fuel combustion. Since these applications utilize microcontrollers to process information, these environmental and government regulations will spur microcontroller growth.
The strong quality requirements and extensive quality certifications required for product introductions will adversely affects lower bit microcontroller manufacturers who lose their market shares to higher bit microcontrollers. Lower bit microcontroller manufacturers can counter by focusing on developing countries with high growth potential.
Automotive manufacturers can increase revenues by working with semiconductor manufacturers to clearly identify difficulties. This collaboration helps reduce the gap between the expected solution and the actual solution provided. By improving cooperation, the lead-time for new technology adoption can drastically reduce due to the higher level of confidence among automotive and semiconductor manufacturers.

More info:
Frost & Sullivan

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