Embedded Systems: December 7, 1995

Tools verify embedded software. CodeTest, a set of four tools, provides in-circuit evaluation of embedded software. With a target-system probe, CodeTest monitors up to 32,000 C and C++ functions with the embedded system µP running at full speed and checks performance, test coverage, and memory allocation. It also provides trace analysis. CodeTest runs on Sun/SunOS, HP-UX, and PC/Windows 95 platforms. Probes are available for MC68040, MC68360, MC68340, i960CX, and i960JX processors. Each tool (performance, coverage, memory, and trace) costs $3000; probes cost about $6000. Applied Microsystems Corp, Redmond, WA. (206) 882-2000.

Industrial computer fits CompactPCI form factor. A family of industrial-computer products, including a 133-MHz Pentium-based single-board computer, complies with the CompactPCI standard, which combines desktop PCI silicon with Eurocard packaging. The 8876 Model is a 6U computer board with up to 256 Mbytes of RAM. Other family members include a SuperVGA card, an Ethernet interface, a disk module, a power supply, and two CompactPCI chassis. Prices range from $375 for the Model 8920 power supply to $2795 for the Model 8876 single-board computer. Pro-Log Corp, Monterey, CA. (408) 372-4593.

20-slot chassis has redundant power supply. An option for the 752X-34H series of 20-slot rack-mounted ISA/PCI bus chassis equips the unit with a second 300W supply in an N+1 configuration. Both supplies share the system’s current load equally during normal operation. Should either power supply fail, the other assumes the full 300W load. Prices start at $2295. Industrial Computer Source, San Diego, CA. (800) 523-2320.

Ada development tool runs under Windows 95. ActivAda Personal Edition, an Ada-development environment for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, comes with a compiler, Windows IDE, symbolic debugger, project manager, cross referencer, make utility, and reformatter. The program generates Windows dynamic-link libraries and works with Visual C++ libraries and tools. The Personal Edition costs $99. Thomson Software Products, San Diego, CA. (619) 457-2700.

Windows-like embedded OS is light on memory. A Windows work-alike operating system for embedded systems, WinLight lets you develop applications to operate with <256 kbytes of code space. It is compatible with Windows development tools and includes a graphical user interface. WinLight runs in protected mode, providing direct access to up to 4 Gbytes of memory. The developer’s kit costs $595. Datalight, Arlington, WA. (206) 435-8086.

Backplanes segment power and logic. Two power-sequenced passive backplanes let systems operate simultaneously and independently from each other within a single enclosure by segmenting both power and logic signals. Each segment of the backplane has its own power and reset switches. The ISA-bus unit offers 20 slots, and the user determines segment size and location. The PCI/ISA dual-bus model provides 19 slots. The first segment has one PCI/ISA, four ISA, and four PCI slots; the second segment contains one PCI/ISA, five ISA, and four PCI slots. Either backplane costs $750. I-Bus Division of Maxwell Laboratories, San Diego, CA. (619) 974-8400.

PCI backplanes come with RISC or Pentium CPU cards. Configured with either an Alpha 64-bit RISC or Pentium CPU card, two PCI bus passive backplanes offer up to 18 I/O slots in desktop, tower, and rack-mounted industrial enclosures. Each system offers both PCI and ISA I/O buses. The Pentium backplane supports DOS, Windows NT, QNX, and VxWorks; the Alpha backplane supports Windows NT, Digital Unix, VxWorks, and Open VMS. The passive backplane with the Pentium 100 CPU card costs $2995. Digital Equipment Corp, Marlborough, MA. (800) 777-4343.

RMX real-time OS for Pentium computer boards. Version 2.2 of the iRMX III real-time operating system supports the Pentium-based iSBC P5090ISE Multibus II computer board and the iSBC PCP4DX4 PC-compatible Multibus I board. Additionally, V2.2 supports the live-insertion capabilities of the CH543OSR Multibus II chassis and central-services module package. The iRMX III development kit costs $9795; upgrades cost $3918. Intel Corp, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 628-2283.

Emulator works with MC19622 microcontroller. The Model 8800 emulator/analyzer, a PC-based real-time emulation system, supports the MC19622 16-bit microcontroller from IBM. Running at 40 MHz with no wait states, the 8800 provides full execution control, real-time trace without stopping the processor, and C source-line referencing. A 16-kbyte trace buffer and 512-kbyte overlay memory are standard. From $12,595. Orion Instruments Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 729-7700.

Bridge links Windows 3.1 to VxWorks. RT-Win allows Windows 3.1 and VxWorks to run concurrently on a single PC. Using VTS’s Hypervisor technology, the real-time VxWorks kernel controls the allocation of processor time. Windows runs as a task managed by the VxWorks kernel. Hypervisor technology supports Windows in enhanced mode on 386, 486, and Pentium processors. From $5995. Virtual-Time Software, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 541-7630.

5X86-based single-board computer targets embedded applications. Based on a Cyrix 100-MHz superpipelined 5X86 CPU, the LBC-5X86 single-board computer brings Pentium-class performance to embedded systems. The 5.75×8-in. board integrates the basic AT peripherals, including a system controller, two eight-channel interrupt controllers, a real-time clock, three counter-timers, seven DMA channels, a keyboard controller, and a speaker port. The LBC-5X86 accepts PC/104 expansion modules and runs under DOS, Windows 95, Unix, Novell, OS/2, and Solaris. It costs $995 without memory. WinSystems Inc, Arlington, TX. (817) 274-7553.

Development tools support MCS 251 microcontroller. With its ANSI C source-mode compiler, the Power Pack tool kit for Intel’s MCS 251 microcontroller produces code for the 251 architecture, taking advantage of both the 251’s increased speed and comprehensive instruction set with minimal rewriting of existing code. The tool kit also offers powerful 251 extensions and the CrossView Windows debugger. Power Pack runs on PC, Digital Equipment Corp, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun platforms. From $1895. Boston Systems Office/Tasking, Dedham, MA. (617) 320-9400.

Real-time development tool is object-oriented. ObjectGeode addresses the constraints of real-time applications and describes them using object-oriented analysis and design techniques. The tool set includes graphical editors, a simulator, an automatic C/C++ code generator, and a design tracer for graphical testing and debugging. ObjectGeode runs on Digital Equipment Corp Alpha, Hewlett-Packard 9000/7XX, IBM RS/6000, and Sun SPARC platforms. From $11,000. Verilog, Inc, Dallas, TX. (214) 241-6595.

VMEbus SBC performs 100 MIPS. A scalable single-board computer with one or two 68060 µPs executes >100 MIPS at 66 MHz. An internal branch cache and 8-kbyte instruction and data caches hone system performance. The VMEbus-based Eurocom 27 comes with up to 4 Mbytes of onboard flash EPROM. Mezzanine memory modules offer up to 64 Mbytes of DRAM, up to 4 Mbytes of additional flash EPROM, and up to 4 Mbytes of SRAM with battery backup. From $3440. American Eltec Inc, Princeton, NJ. (609) 452-1555.

Enhanced RISM for MCS 96 is free. ChipTools has released into the public domain Version 2.0 of Reduced Instruction Set Monitor (RISM) for the Intel MCS 96 family of microcontrollers. V2.0 enhances the functionality of Intel’s public-domain RISM and repairs more than seven identified bugs in the earlier versions, yet remains backward-compatible with those versions. ChipTools Inc, Mississauga, ON, Canada. (905) 274-6244.

ICE supports SL Enhanced i486 processor. Debug all the features of the SL Enhanced version of the Intel 486 processor with the KSE5 in-circuit emulator. The unit combines hardware and software to edit, compile, and debug functions simultaneously. A single personality module supports SX and DX derivatives with clock speeds to 33 MHz. A second personality module supports DX2 processors to 66 MHz. From $29,000. Kontron Electronik Corp, Newport Beach, CA. (714) 851-1872.