Embedded Systems: February 1, 1996

Dedicated digital output card fits ISA bus systems. Capable of sourcing 15 mA and sinking 64 mA, the CIO-DO48H supplies 48 lines of dedicated digital output on an ISA bus-compatible plug-in board. The CIO-DO48H requires no programming to initialize its output registers. Software written for 82C55-based I/O boards runs on the CIO-DO48H without modification. The digital control board costs $99. ComputerBoards Inc, Mansfield, MA. (508) 261-1123.

Programming system permits component reuse. ControlShell is an object-oriented CASE system that lets you build complex systems from reusable code objects. You connect and combine these components into working real-time systems using ControlShell’s graphical editor. You add new components with an automatic C++ code generator. Built on VxWorks, the ControlShell real-time programming system runs on Sun and SGI workstations. Development licenses start at $13,250. Real-Time Innovations Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 720-8312.

C/C++ error-detection software ported to Windows. Insure++ V3.0, an automatic runtime error-detection environment for C/C++, is now available for Windows 95, Windows NT, VMS, and Lynx operating systems. V3.0 runs faster than previous versions, reduces memory usage, and detects more errors, even in third-party libraries. Hardware platforms include Sun, HP, IBM, DEC, SGI, Sequent, Tandem, and x86. Insure++ V3.0 for Sun workstations is priced from $1995 for a single-machine license. ParaSoft Corp, Monrovia, CA. (818) 305-0041.

Tool kit evaluates Am29200 designs. The SA29200 kit contains all the components required to evaluate the Am29200 RISC microcontroller in an actual application. The package comes with a demonstration board, a power supply, and a 29K software-development tool kit. The software includes a High C 29K compiler, MiniMON29K monitor program, and XRAY29K debugger. Start-up and evaluation tutorials are provided, as is comprehensive documentation. The kit costs $195. Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Sunnyvale, Ca. (408) 749-5703.

Graphic tool presents X Window alternative. When you cannot use X Window Systems because of the memory, processing, or file I/O constraints of your embedded real-time application, the RTGL real-time graphics library lets you build graphics displays using a minimal amount of memory. It contains a set of primitive drawing functions, a pointer, and keyboard-input libraries, and it supports about 50 text fonts. For most applications, RTGL requires <64 kbytes of memory. The software, which runs under pSOS+ and VxWorks, costs $1995. VisiCom Laboratories Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 457-2111.

Graphics software suits set-top applications. Using 40 kbytes of memory, OpTIC graphics software can be embedded in set-top boxes for drawing lines, polygons, squares, circles, and ellipses. It also manipulates pixels, images, and text. Based on the pSOS operating system, OpTIC accommodates proportional and double-byte text and fonts, any screen size, eight possible orientations, and up to 32 bits/pixel, resulting in more than four billion colors. A multimedia bundle that includes drivers for MPEG-2 decompression chips, infrared pointers, and NTSC encoders starts at $4000. Integrated Systems Inc, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 980-1500.

Probe debugs 64-bit VMEbus systems. A development tool supports the full 64-bit address and data extension of the VMEbus specification revision 1.11. The FuturePlus FSVME64E preprocessor includes the electrical and mechanical interface between the VME/VXI bus and a Hewlett-Packard logic analyzer, as well as configuration and transaction disassembly software. It also has an extender card connector and acts as an interposer between the target VME/VXI bus and the VME or VXI module under test. The FSVME64E costs $2000. FuturePlus Systems Corp, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 380-7321.

Automation program routes software defects. QC/Recall helps you pinpoint the cause of software crashes or malfunctions in deployed mission-critical applications. By monitoring how a user was interacting with an application when it failed, QC/Recall provides a log of all user actions to aid in isolating bugs. It lets you execute the log file to re-create the failure. QC/Recall supports SunOS, Solaris/SPARC, HP UX, IBM AIX, DEC Unix, Silicon Graphics, and Unixware platforms. A 100-user license costs $350/user. CenterLine Software Inc, Cambridge, MA. (617) 498-3000.

Pods convert emulator for x86 processors. An upgraded version of the UEM emulator accommodates embedded x86 processors from Intel, AMD, and NEC by changing a pod. Each processor-dependent pod consists of a small board mounted on the end of the emulation cable. Changing pods takes 15 sec. Pods are available for 186, 186EX, 186EC, 186EB, 186EM, 386EX, and V50 variants. A Windows-based source-level debugger queries the emulator upon power-up to determine which pod is installed and then configures itself to operate with that pod. The UEM emulator costs $7995; pods cost $1500. Softaid Inc, Columbia, MD. (410) 290-7760.

Real-time kernel targets 8XC251 and 80C51XA. The CMX-RTX real-time multitasking operating system for the Intel 8XC251SB and Philips 80C51XA microcontrollers provides more than 60 kernel services within a single application-programming interface. The real-time operating system lets you control tasks, events, messages, resources, cyclic timers, queues, fixed-memory blocks, and UARTs. Other features include an automatic low-power mode, fast context switching, and low-interrupt latency. Source code and the CMXBug debugger are included with the package, with prices starting at $995. CMX Co, Framingham, MA. (508) 872-7675.

Multiport serial card maximizes throughput. RocketPort, an ISA/EISA bus-compatible serial controller with up to 32 ports, transmits and receives up to 115.2 kbps (RS-232C) or 230.4 kbps (RS-422) across all ports simultaneously. The controller’s 36-MHz processors ensure that the high throughput needed by V.Fast and V.34 modems is sustained across all ports. The controller is also equipped with large FIFOs that virtually eliminate data loss and bottlenecks. RocketPort, which is available in four-, eight-, 16-, and 32-port models, comes with DOS, Windows, and SCO Unix drivers. You can install as many as four boards. Prices range from $299 to $1099. Industrial Computer Source, San Diego, CA. (800) 523-2320.

Microcontroller emulator adapters convert DIP to QFP. Emulator adapters for Microchip’s PIC16C64 and PIC17C42 microcontrollers provide a reliable interface between a DIP plug on the emulator and a target board with pads for a 44-lead QFP. Each adapter consists of two parts. One is a leadless low-profile base with male pins that is soldered in place of the package on the target. The other part attaches to the DIP plug on the emulator. DIP sockets are supplied with machine-screw receptacle pins for emulator use or as a ZIF socket for use with reprogrammable devices. Prices are $180 and $200, respectively. EDI Corp, Las Vegas, NV. (702) 735-4997.