Embedded Systems: August 15, 1996

Free microcontroller-development-tool directory.

To help you develop microcontroller-based systems, the vendor offers its 1996 Microcontroller Development Tools Directory. The 150-pg document contains data on hardware- and software-development tools for the M68HC05, M68HC08, M68HC11, M68HC16, M68-300, and MPC500 families. The free publication presents tools from the vendor and >65 independent suppliers. Motorola Microcontroller Technologies Group, Austin, TX. (512) 328-2268.

Compliance software speeds PCI development.

Software for the HP E2910A PCI bus exerciser accelerates the development of PCI devices and systems. The improved Version 2.0 software includes >40 tests that reduce the time and effort involved in testing PCI-protocol compliance of a device. The test executive shell lets you set up, configure, and automatically run test sequences. The HP E2910A PCI bus exerciser with Version 2.0 software costs $42,900. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 1785.

IndustryPack modules provide differential I/O.

Part of the Unified Digital family, four IndustryPack EIA-422 mezzanine modules supply high-density differential I/O ports. Using as many as four of these modules, a single VMEbus or PC/AT slot can deliver as many as 96 EIA-422 I/O lines. The IP-UniDig-D provides 24 differential buffered input or latched output signal lines; the IP-UniDig-I-D offers 24 I/O lines with differential output drivers and receivers and double-buffered outputs. The IP-UniDig-T-D with four 16-bit countdown timers and the IP-UniDig-P-D, a 16-bit parallel digital I/O module with four programmable handshake signals, are also available. Prices start at $380. GreenSpring Computers, Menlo Park, CA. (415) 327-1200.

HDLC software runs on QUICC-based VMEbus boards.

The HDLCom is an implementation of the vendor's HDLC LAPB data-link protocol, comprising the VMEbus NitroCom communication controller and QCom240 serial controller. Each controller combines a 68040/68060 processor and a QUICC communication controller chip. Written in C, HDLCom runs on the host processor as a task under the VxWorks real-time operating system. The software suits real-time packet-switching environments and allows loosely and tightly coupled protocol stacks, solicited and unsolicited messages, and interrupt handlers for the VxWorks QUICC driver. A binary developer's license costs $4000; binary target licenses cost $50 (OEM). Heurikon Corp, Madison, WI. (608) 831-5500.

C++ error checker gives on-line advice.

C++Expert combines error detection with automatic on-line advice to help eliminate source-code defects early in software development. The development tool encapsulates expertise from Scott Meyers' books, Effective C++ and More Effective C++, and automatically checks code using expert rules derived from these books to flush out design and coding flaws. C++Expert's three-way error detection finds source-code defects at each phase of the compile, link, and run cycles. SunOS and Solaris versions of C++Expert cost $995/seat. CenterLine Software Inc, Cambridge, MA. (617) 498-3000.

Telecommunication simulator for Windows uses block diagrams.

A version of the vendor's PC telecomm simulator runs under Windows 3.1 and 95. Using familiar Windows' tools, Tesla 2.0 lets you simulate modem, synthesizer, spread-spectrum, and other telecomm systems at the block-diagram level. Block diagrams are drawn with OrCAD Capture for Windows and seamlessly integrated with Tesla. You can switch to Capture with one keystroke, change the diagram, save the change, and switch back to Tesla, which automatically updates the system being simulated. Prices range from $995 to $1810. Tesoft Inc, Roswell, GA. (770) 751-9785.

Real-time graphics accelerator fits PMC form factor.

Built on a single-width PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC), the Vigra VPM-20 accelerator card processes high-resolution graphics for real-time VMEbus applications. The card, which comes with a 2-Mbyte VRAM frame buffer, accommodates screen resolutions ranging from 640×480 to 1600×1280 pixels. It handles lines, quadrilaterals, and fill operations at >150 Mbytes/sec and executes screen-to-screen bit-BLTs at >50 Mbytes/sec. The Vigra VPM-20 runs under VxWorks and costs $1495. VisiCom Laboratories Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 457-2111.

ISA-bus wireless-development board comes with DSP.

Complete with its own SRAM, EPROM, and UART, the Tiger 542/PC development board targets designs based on the TMS-320C54x, a DSP optimized for wireless communications. The board's onboard C542 processor runs at 80 MHz and handles as many as 40 MIPS. Input and output functions include two channels of 16-bit, 50-kHz, CD-quality analog I/O, plus an RJ-11 telephone jack. The PC/AT board comes with the QuickStart operating environment, which covers device drivers, DSP-memory allocation, buffer handling, and standard I/O to the host. From $1695. DSP Research, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 773-1042.

PowerPC-based SBC provides choice of operating systems.

Built around a PowerPC 604 processor running at 100 MHz, the Galaxy PowerPC VMEbus SBC runs multiple industry-standard OSs. The Galaxy desktop version runs under Windows NT, IBM AIX, and Sun Solaris; embedded versions run under VxWorks and OS-9. In addition to onboard PCI and ISA buses, the Galaxy PowerPC comes with as many as 512 kbytes of L2 cache, as many as 4 Mbytes of flash ROM, and accommodations for DRAM. Prices start at $3395, not including memory. Omnibyte Corp, West Chicago, IL. (708) 231-6880.

Visual environment suits real-time DSP projects.

The Real-time Integrated Development Environment (RIDE) combines DSP hardware with Hypersignal Block Diagram software and Windows DSP-board drivers to help you design, implement, and analyze real-time DSP algorithms and systems. The driver handles all communications and control of the DSP hardware. Block Diagram communicates with the installed driver without dealing with hardware specifics. RIDE's user interface is the same for both simulated and real-time DSP-block functions. Hypersignal RIDE costs $3995. Hyperception, Dallas, TX. (214) 343-8525.

Multimedia board plugs into VMEbus systems.

The Vigra Sliver multimedia server combines video, audio, and graphics on a single-slot VMEbus board. In addition to a 32-bit RISC processor, the board comes with two 2.5-Mbyte accelerated frame buffers, two video accelerators, and two daughterboard sites, each with system-bus and video- accelerator interfaces. Graphics accelerators perform 8-bit/pixel rendering into two orthogonal frame buffers. The device's embedded server architecture provides X Windows performance without loading the host CPU and turns Sliver into a complete VMEbus-based X terminal. Prices start at $5900. VisiCom Laboratories Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 457-2111.

Multiprocessor debugger teams with DSP hardware.

A port of BBN's TotalView multiprocessor native debugger for the vendor's i860-based SuperCard family of DSPs enables you to debug multiple processes simultaneously under Vx-Works on a SuperCard 4. The vendor has optimized the source-level debugger for the SuperCard XL architecture to target high-performance embedded applications. User licenses start at $4000. CSPI, Billerica, MA. (508) 663-7598.

PC/104 module brings stereo sound to embedded systems.

The Embedded Sound Module (ESM) is a 5V PC/104 module that adds audio/music record and playback to embedded-system designs. You can use the ESM for alarms, status messages, or other an-nouncements in such applications as vehicular systems, instrumentation, and security equipment. An onboard, 16-bit ADC samples at software-selectable rates from 5 to 44.1 kHz. The module compresses and decompresses .WAV files to minimize storage requirements of sound files. The module includes a Yamaha OPL3-compatible, 20-voice FM synthesizer; a 0.5W stereo-audio amplifier; and a Windows driver. The ESM costs $189 (100). Ampro Computers Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 522-2100.

Mezzanine card analyzes PCI-bus activity.

The PMC500, a self-contained system analyzer on a PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC), uses a l6-level sequencer to generate signal patterns on the PCI bus. Plugged into a host board, the PMC500 captures bus activity by sampling all signals on the bus along with a time stamp. You can form complex triggers using four bus conditions with an eight-level sequencer. The PMC500 has an embedded terminal interface, as well as a PMC windowed interface. Prices start at $4495 with 128 kbytes of trace buffer. Silicon Control Inc, Deerfield, IL. (847) 643-9313.

Windows NT tool builds VPLs.

DV-Centro Version 1.2 for Windows NT lets you create visual programming languages (VPLs), systems that are based on custom symbols, shapes, and objects connected to data. A true VPL allows you to modify application data by manipulating graphical images. Based on an object-oriented C++ framework, DV-Centro provides a suite of graphical tools for creating reusable components for complex VPL applications. In addition to Windows NT, DV-Centro runs under Solaris and HP-UX. Development seats start at $15,000. DataViews Corp, Northampton, MA. (413) 586-4144.

19-in. rack unit holds seven PCI-bus cards.

The 2101-00-2 19-in. rack-mount expansion unit lets you transparently add seven 32-bit PCI-bus slots to a PCI-slot-limited host computer. The 2101-00-2 consists of a host PCI card and a heavy-duty cabinet, which in-cludes a backplane-controller card, an eight-slot PCI baby-AT-sized backplane, and a 250W power supply. A 2- or 4-ft cable connects the host and the cabinet. The unit carries UL, FCC Class A, CE Mark, and CISPR Class A approvals. The Model 2101-00-2 costs $995 (OEM). Bit 3 Computer Corp, Minneapolis, MN. (612) 881-6955.

PC enclosures suit embedded applications.

In six-, 12-, and 15-slot configurations, this line of embedded enclosures lets you mount the computer chassis in a kiosk or in a machine. All three enclosures accommodate full-length AT add-in boards and come with ISA-bus passive backplanes or dual-ISA/PCI-bus backplanes. Knockouts are provided for mounting multiple DB25, DB9, and keyboard connectors, as well as for 3.5-in. floppy and hard drives. Optional ac power supplies come in 200, 250, and 325W versions. Prices range from $199 to $475. I-Bus division of Maxwell Laboratories, San Diego, CA. (619) 974-8400.

Emulator works with OTP microcontrollers.

Micro-chip offers the ICEPIC ICE for its PIC16C5X and PIC16CXX 8-bit OTP microcontrollers. Operating under Windows 3.1, ICEPIC provides source-level debugging in assembly language or C. A motherboard supplies the common emulation logic, and a daughterboard contains device-specific logic. ICEPIC system prices range from $759 to $849, depending on the board. Upgradable personality boards cost $269 to $349. Microchip Technology Inc, Chandler, AZ. (602) 786-7200.

Rack-mount PC/AT comes with passive ISA/PCI-bus backplane.

Intended for light industrial use, the 9440 19-in., rack-mount computer offers a choice of either a 10-slot ISA bus or combination ISA/PCI-bus passive backplane. The combination backplane has seven ISA and two PCI slots. Several CPU options are available, ranging from an 80486 DX2 to a 133-MHz Pentium. The 9440 withstands temperatures from 0 to 50°C and humidities of 20 to 80% RH (noncondensing). From $2850. Xycom, Saline, MI. (313) 429-4971.

Embedded DOS-ROM is MS-DOS alternative.

The Run-From-ROM DOS occupies <32 kbytes of ROM and is a drop-in replacement for embedded systems using basic MS-DOS or ROM-DOS system software. The embedded DOS-ROM offers easy-to-use functions and flexible ROMing methods. Run-From-ROM DOS licenses cost <$6/copy. A standard binary kit containing the embedded DOS-ROM and locator utility costs $495; source code costs an additional $995. General Software, Bellevue, WA. (206) 454-5755.

Portable ICE targets i386EX and E86 microprocessors.

SuperTap leverages the vendor's CodeTap architecture to provide full-featured, portable in-circuit emulation for the Intel i386EX and the AMD E86 microprocessors, including the 33-MHz 80386EX and 40-MHz Am186 ES/EM series. SuperTap, which requires an IBM PC 386 or compatible host, is a self-contained clip-and-go package that you can use out of box. It comes with a debugger and linker/locator, a 64-kbyte trace memory, a 1-Mbyte overlay memory, an adapter, and a serial communications port. Prices start at <$10,000. Applied Microsystems Corp, Redmond, WA. (206) 882-2000.