Embedded Systems: September 12, 1996

Emulator works with H8S microcontroller.

Part of the HP 64700 emulation series, the HP E3471A for Hitachi's H8S microcontroller provides real-time zero-wait-state emulation to 25 MHz. The system uses an 80-channel emulation bus analyzer and allows 2.7 to 5.25V operation. You can select emulation bus analyzers with 8-, 64-, or 256-kbyte-deep trace buffers and up to 4 Mbytes of emulation memory. A typically configured system, which includes a card cage with a LAN interface, an 80-channel 8-kbyte-deep analyzer, 1 Mbyte of memory, an H8S emulation board, and a C debugger, costs $22,000. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 1776.

Half-size SBC offers 5x86 CPU, Ethernet, and video.

The upgraded VIPer806 SBC sports a 5x86 processor running at speeds of up to 133 MHz, replacing the 486 CPU of previous versions. The half-size PC/104-compatible card comes with an onboard Ethernet controller and either a 10BaseT or -Base2 network interface. It also drives both SVGA flat panels and CRTs and supplies a built-in connector for video overlay. Additionally, the VIPer806 has up to 4 Mbytes of bootable flash EPROM, 128 Mbytes of DRAM, and standard PC/AT functions. A 5x86-based board with 10BaseT installed costs $1358. Teknor Industrial Computers Inc, Boisbriand, PQ, Canada. (514) 437-5682.

Development tool generates USB bit stream.

Comprising a programmable stand-alone board and a Windows application program, the USB Traffic Generator lets you stress test USB designs and observe product behavior under faulty bus conditions. The board generates a bit stream (preprogrammed into two onboard EPROMs) over the D+ and D­ USB wires. By separately controlling each individual bit on the D+ and D­ lines, the generator is able to send the raw differential USB data, as well as the static bus conditions J, K, and SE0. The USB Traffic Generator costs $3750. Computer Access Technology Corp, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 727-6600.

Updated RTOS improves modularity.

Version 3.2 of the smx RTOS for x86 embedded systems provides an integrated platform that ensures all modules of the RTOS fit smoothly. Main modules include the smx kernel, DOS-compatible file manager, TCP/IP stack, dynamic load module system, smx++ class library, task debugger, protected-mode environment, and windowing utility. The RTOS accommodates real mode, 16-bit segmented protected mode, and 32-bit flat protected mode. Modules are sold separately and in any combination. The real-time kernel costs $3500 and is royalty-free. Micro Digital Inc, Cypress, CA. (714) 373-6862.

TIM-40 module connects DSP comports.

The TDM432, a 2.5×4.2-in. TIM-40 module, achieves 16-Mbyte/sec TMS320C40 or C44 DSP comport communications across fiber-optic or coaxial cable. In addition to comport data, JTAG and reset signals are also sent across the same cable, enabling remote debugging and rebooting of C40- and C44-based DSP networks. DSP comports can be connected across distances of up to 2 km. Prices start at $1475. Transtech Parallel Systems, Ithaca, NY. (607) 257-6502.

Backplane has three PCI/ISA-bus segments.

Offering a total of 20 slots, a PCI/ISA-bus segmented, passive backplane accommodates three systems in a single chassis. One segment has eight slots, comprising three PCI, one CPU, and four ISA slots. The remaining two segments offer six slots each, broken down into three PCI, one CPU, and two ISA slots. The backplane, which complies with the PICMG specification and works with 486- and Pentium-based single-board computers, costs $430. Rapid Systems Inc, Seattle, WA. (206) 784-4311.

Optimized card links MIL-STD-1553 bus with PC Card.

Upgrading the BU-65550 Type II PC Card is an enhanced cable assembly with an in-line molded transformer and an improved locking connector assembly. The card provides a fully intelligent interface between a dual redundant MIL-STD-1553 data bus and a PCMCIA socket. ACE software controls the BU-65550's operation as a bus controller, remote terminal, or bus monitor. The unit meets the requirements of MIL-STD-1553A, MIL-STD-1553B Notice 2, and STANAG 3838 (including EFAbus) protocols. The price of the enhanced BU-65550 and ACE software remains at $3295. ILC Data Device Corp, Bohemia, NY. (516) 567-5600.

Analyzer preprocessors suit PCI local bus and PCI CardBus.

Working in conjunction with one of Hewlett-Packard's logic analyzers, the FSPCI64E PCI Plus preprocessor lets you view PCI-bus activity, measure setup and hold violations, characterize software, verify compliance, and measure performance specifications. A second tool, the FSPCB32E PCI CardBus preprocessor, provides the electrical and mechanical interface between the PCI CardBus and the logic analyzer, as well as configuration and transaction disassembly software. The PCI Plus and PCI CardBus preprocessors cost $3400 and $2000, respectively. FuturePlus Systems Corp, Colorado Springs, CO. (719) 380-7321.

IndustryPack carrier board rides PCI bus.

The PCI-40 is an IndustryPack carrier board that gives PCI-based systems access to a wide range of high-density I/O solutions for industrial, commercial, and desktop applications. Each carrier board accommodates four IndustryPack modules, and up to four carriers can be installed in a typical PCI-bus system. You can configure IP sites for either 8- or 32-MHz operation, allowing data rates of up to 64 Mbytes/sec. The standard 8-Mbyte memory space is available for each IP site. Prices for the PCI-40 start at $900. GreenSpring Computers, Menlo Park, CA. (415) 327-1200.

ICE aims at Am186EM embedded processor.

Operating under Windows at a speed of 40 MHz, the UEM-186EM ICE provides a development environment for AMD's Am186EM embedded processor. The emulator sets up to 1 million hardware breakpoints, which allow debugging of ROMed code, self-modifying code, and self-test routines. Another eight hardware event conditions can generate breakpoints on more complex bus cycles. The UEM-186EM, which comes with a 32-kbyte trace buffer and Windows software, costs $8995. Softaid Inc, Columbia, MD. (410) 290-7760.

Accelerator executes 1.28 Gflops with I/O to match.

Using motherboards in combination with I/O and compute daughtercards, the SKYbolt II 9U accelerator offers up to 1.28 Gflops of multiprocessing performance, the SKYchannel 320-Mbyte/sec packet bus, VME64, and a 160-Mbytes/sec implementation of the Front Panel Data Port open-standard interface. The SKYvec software development environment provides tools and compilers that automatically optimize, vectorize, and parallelize code to speed development time. SKYbolt II 9U configurations cost <$30,000 (OEM). Sky Computers Inc, Chelmsford, MA. (508) 250-1920.

PMC-compatible VSB card bridges VMEbus CPU boards.

The PM/VSB mezzanine card supplies a 32-bit link between a VMEbus baseboard's PMC interface and the VSB bus. Serving as a VSB bus master and a PMC slave, the module makes VSB signals externally available via the VMEbus P2 connector. The VSB master interface provides 10-Mbyte/sec single-cycle read operations and 15-Mbyte/sec write and DMA read operations. The PM/VSB costs $608 (100); a binary license for a VxWorks driver costs $500. Heurikon Corp, Madison, WI. (608) 831-5500.

Single-board computer packs 586DX computer in PC/104 footprint.

The Tiny586DX single-board computer integrates all the standard functions of a PC motherboard and a Cyrix/IBM 586DX processor running as fast as 120 MHz on a PC/104 form-factor card that measures 3.6×3.8 in. The device offers a quiescent current consumption of <400 mA. An optional bootable flash disk provides full hard-disk read/write emulation and responds to standard DOS file-access commands. Advanced Micro Peripherals Ltd, Little Ouse, Cambs, UK. +44 1353 676311.

Stackable PC/104 module drives LCD panels and CRTs.

The PCM-FPVGA, a SuperVGA video and flat-panel PC/104 bus controller, drives multiple LCD panels and CRT displays. You can stack up to 15 of the boards to drive displays simultaneously. Based on a Chips and Technologies' 65540 flat-panel and CRT controller, the module works with high-resolution fixed- and variable-frequency analog monitors in interlaced and noninterlaced modes. It also drives all flat-panel display technologies, including plasma and electroluminescent, plus active- and passive-matrix LCDs. The unit lists for $300 and includes 512 kbytes of video RAM. A 1-Mbyte version costs $350. WinSystems Inc, Arlington, TX. (817) 274-7553.

DSP-development tool runs on multiple platforms.

SwiftNet 3.2, a bidirectional communications protocol, eases the development and debugging of embedded real-time DSP applications on Sun, Hewlett-Packard, Digital, and PC/AT platforms. The upgraded tool set manages the connection between the vendor's software development tools and its family of VMEbus DSP boards. Enhanced features include a TCP/IP socket implementation for performance optimization, a C standard I/O server, and local performance optimization for nonEthernet configurations for bus adapters and embedded hosts. SwiftNet 3.2 is incorporated into all of the vendor's software development tools at no additional charge. Pentek Inc, Norwood, NJ. (201) 767-7100.

J1/J2 backplane cuts ground bounce and crosstalk.

Equipped with a 10-layer printed wiring board, the CTI-604 monolithic J1/J2 backplane significantly reduces delta I ground bounce and line-to-line crosstalk. The backplane's low-inductance ground plane system permits only minimal shift during high changes in current. Crosstalk is substantially reduced through the use of 5-mil copper lines. The CTI-604 accommodates 2 to 21 modules. A seven-position version costs $293.55 (50). Cosco Technologies, Endicott, NY. (607) 757-0633.