Products

Embedded Systems

Software joins different platforms. Working with the SOS/RTRTOS, Replicated Information Exchange (RIX) Release 1.0 simplifies connectivity among dissimilar embedded computers in distributed processing environments. RIX implements a selective replicated memory scheme that provides a high-speed, low-traffic data and event link without the need for specialized hardware. Licensing fees start at $1995. Brainstorm Engineering Co, Palm Harbor, FL. (813) 938-1311.

FPGA reconfigurable software supplies OS. A 16-bit DOS version (Release 3.0) and a 32-bit Windows NT version (Release 3.1) of the vendor's reconfigurable computing-development software target designs based on Xilinx FPGAs and the Spectrum Reconfigurable Computing Platform. Both releases provide the XLINK-OS, the XL compiler, XL and XSCRIPTT languages, diagnostic tools, and I/O and monitor libraries. Release 3.0 for DOS costs $1750; release 3.1 for Windows NT costs $2500. Giga Operations Corp, Berkeley, CA. (510) 848-5446.

Embedded single-board computers are compact, offer wide choice of CPUs. SystemCard embedded-system boards allow x86 desktop computing on a board that has the same footprint as a 5.25-in. disk drive. CPU options include a 33-MHz 80386SX; 80486SX, DX, DX2, or DX4; 100-, 120-, 133-, 150-, or 166-MHz Pentium; AMD K5; or Cyrix M1. SystemCard boards also come with SanDisk solid-state flash disks in capacities of 2, 4, 10, and 15 Mbytes. Prices range from $595 to $995 (100). ZF Microsystems Inc, Palo Alto, CA. (415) 965-3800.

Kit enables seamless Tornado integration. The Back End Developer's Kit for the Tornado cross-development environment enables third-party in-circuit emulator and other hardware vendors to offer back-end Tornado integration with minimal effort. The kit consists of a C++ library and extensive documentation to help create a back-end connection strategy in the form of a dynamically linked library. The framework for the back end forms an abstract base class so that you can reuse proven, debugged code. The kit is free. Wind River Systems, Alameda, CA. (510) 814-2573.

C cross-compiler works with 68HC12 microcontroller. Optimized for embedded applications, the Cosmic C cross-compiler targets the Motorola 68HC12 family of microcontrollers. It supports ANSI/ISO syntax and constructs offering both re-entrant and static programming modes. A standard package for a PC host includes an optimizing C cross-compiler, macro as-sembler, linker, librarian, object inspector, hex-file generator, object-format converters, debugging utilities, run-time library source code, and a multipass compiler-command driver. Prices start at $1700. Cosmic Software Inc, Woburn, MA. (617) 932-2556.

Multitasking kernel runs on PowerPC. A version of the smx real-time multitasking kernel offers a suite of services for the PowerPC 400, 500, 600, and 800 series of processors. The smxPPC kernel is integrated with the DiabData C/C++ compiler, MetaWare C/C++ compiler, SDS SingleStep simulator/debugger, and SDS target monitor. All tools run under DOS and Windows. The smxPPC development kit costs $8000, which includes a site development license. Micro Digital Inc, Cypress, CA. (714) 373-6862.

Multifunction board saves space in VMEbus systems. By integrating graphics, image processing, and DSP on a single VMEbus board, the Eclipse reduces the board count in complex systems. A 50-MHz TMS320-C80 combines the power of a 32-bit 100-Mflop RISC master processor with four 32-bit DSPs. Eclipse's 64-bit-wide video expansion bus (VXbus) connects to an on-board RGB graphics-output channel and two mezzanine modules. Mezzanine op-tions include additional graphics outputs, dual or quad LCD controllers, color video frame grabbers, Video in Windows capture/display, a Raceway Interlink interface, Radar data capture, and a 10BaseT Ethernet interface. Prices start at $12,480. Radstone Technology Corporation, Montvale, NJ. (201) 391-2700.

Reverse-engineering tool analyzes C++ source code. Release 2.3 of Imagix 4D, a 3-D program that applies knowledge-based exploration and information-visualizing techniques to reduce the time spent studying code, now works with C++. Release 2.3 also adds flowcharts that give information about the internal control flow of individual functions. Imagix 4D, which runs on Sun and Hewlett-Packard workstations, costs $2490/seat. Imagix Corp, Beaverton, OR. (503) 526-0807.

PCI/ISA CPU boards furnish 200-MHz Pentium processing. Pentium-based Shark and Tigershark passive-backplane CPU boards, each equipped with dual PCI/ISA-bus expansion in-terfaces, have a 200-MHz speed option with their CPU choices. The Tigershark accommodates as much as 256 Mbytes of DRAM using four 72-pin SIMMs, and the Shark accommodates as much as 128 Mbytes of DRAM. Both boards have 512 kbytes of cache, which can be configured as write-back or write-through. The 200-MHz versions of the Shark and Tigershark cost $3000 and $3600, respectively, without DRAM. I-Bus division of Maxwell Laboratories, San Diego, CA. (619) 974-8400.

Servo/stepper controller operates with Windows 95. Equipped with a 486-DX2, 486DX4, or AMD 5x86 processor, the Motion Server board provides as many as 16 axes of mixed servo/stepper control, as well as 48 bits of I/O, from a single ISA-bus slot. Using the vendor's visual programming environment, the Servo/Stepper Application Workbench (SAW), you can create motion and control applications for the Motion Server under Windows 95. You can also access the board's motion capabilities through binary and ASCII communication. MotionServer manages as many as 12 separate machine-control activities/msec. Prices range from $1595 (four axes) to $2795 (16 axes). Douloi Automation, Campbell, CA. (408) 374-6322.

Industrial computer board manages power. Built on a 4.934.5-in. board, the Model 5066 embedded industrial computer provides power-management functions that cut power consumption by more than 80%, reducing heat and ex-tending battery life. You can also use these functions to suspend and resume program operation. The Model 5066 operates over a temperature range of –40 to +708C and withstands 20g of shock and 5g of vibration. You can select either a 100-MHz 586 or 66-MHz 486DX2 processor. The board comes with 1 Mbyte of DRAM and DOS 6.22 in ROM. The 486 version costs $725, and the 586-based board costs $875. Octagon Systems, Westminster, CO. (303) 430-1500.

PCI modules complement VMEbus-based RISC board. A PCI-bus module for the V6M6 RISC processor VMEbus board implements two full-duplex 1.544-Mbps T1 interfaces. The IM2T1 supports both short-haul (DSX) connections and lines as long as 6000 ft. A second module, the IM2E1, is similar to the IM2T1, except that it provides two 2.048-Mbps E1/CEPT interfaces and connects to lines as long as 1500 ft. The third PCI-bus module, the IMHC4, supplies four input and output analog audio interfaces. The IM2T1, IM2E1, and IMHC4 each cost $1500. Communication Automation & Control Inc, Allentown, PA. (610) 776-6669.

60-MHz DSP powers voice-processing module. An enhanced version of the Piranha speech-coding subsystem incorporates a 50% faster CPU and 43 the SRAM of its predecessor. A 60-MHz TMS320C31 processor drives the P3112 plug-in module and provides a full-duplex analog interface, filtered A/D and D/A conversion, an externally clocked serial interface, and 512 kbytes of zero-wait-state SRAM. The Piranha P3112 costs $1250. DSP Research Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 773-1042.

80x86 development kits in-clude OS. Application develop-ment kits that integrate the VRTX RTOS let you design real- and protected-mode applications for the 80x86 processor family. For protected-mode development, you can choose from flat (fpm) or segmented (smp) memory models. The flat model presents an easy-to-use 32-bit memory space, and the segmented model offers hardware-based multitasking support, virtual memory, and the ability to detect and correct many software errors on-the-fly. Prices start at $2495 for the VRTX x86/rm kit and $3495 for the x86/spm or x86/fpm kit. Microtec Research Inc, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 980-1300.

ICE debugs 16-bit TLCS-900-based embedded systems. The UEM in-circuit emulator for Toshiba's TLCS-900 family of 16-bit embedded processors provides 1 million hardware breakpoints. Another eight hardware event conditions break on more complex bus cycles, such as I/O activity. You can set events using Boolean equations of virtually any form and complexity. The UEM has a 32-kbyte real-time trace buffer, generating views of the data as raw machine instructions, C source, or intermixed C and disassembled code. Supplied with Windows-based software, the UEM costs $7995.Softaid Inc, Columbia, MD. (410) 290-7760.

PC/104 card boasts 120-MHz 586 processor. De-spite its small size, the TC586 embedded controller leverages the power of a 586 CPU running as fast as 120 MHz. The module comes with a DIMM socket for as much as 16 Mbytes of DRAM, two RS-232C serial ports, one enhanced parallel printer port, keyboard and sound ports, and standard PC/104 bus pins. BIOS and application code are stored in 1 Mbyte of flash memory. Instead of the 586, you can choose a 66-MHz 80486-DX2, a 100-MHz 80486DX4, or a 120-MHz 80486DX4 processor. The TC586 requires a 5V supply and costs $750, not including the processor or DRAM (100). The Saelig Co, Victor, NY. (716) 425-3753.

VME/PMC board implements multidrop reflective memory. The VMIPMC-5550 board uses a reflective memory interface that allows data to be shared among as many as 16 independent VMEbus and PMC nodes at rates of as much as 20 Mbytes/sec. You can automatically transfer data across the network by writing to onboard global RAM. Each reflective memory board is configured with 256 kbytes to 4 Mbytes of SRAM. Any node on the network can generate an interrupt in any other node or in all network chassis. From $2713. VME Microsystems International Corp, Huntsville, AL. (205) 880-0444.

Keypad encoder works with PC/104-based computers. The USE104, a programmable keypad encoder built on a PC/104 form-factor board, operates in parallel with a standard keyboard or another encoder. Keypad layout, key-code values, interface parameters, and macros are stored in EE-PROM. You can assign as many as eight macros to any key and use nonstandard upper- and lower-shift combinations. The encoder works with switch matrices from 1323 to 12312 keys to a total of 144 keys. The USE104 costs $80 (100). VG Controls Inc, Hewitt, NJ. (201) 853-4600.

Debugging tool flags PCI-bus protocol violations. Plugged directly onto the PCI bus, this real-time, error-analysis tool monitors, captures, and reports bus-protocol errors. The PCI Wizard requires no set up, has no software to load, and requires no other test equipment. The card gives instantaneous feedback for testing and debugging, and LED indicators ease fault diagnosis. An onboard reset enables you to start monitoring bus activities at any time without restarting the system. The PCI Wizard works with Catalyst's PCI active extenders, sharing the same slot as the unit under test. The PCI Wizard PCI-WZ1 costs $695. Catalyst Enterprises Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 268-4145.

Tiny PC/AT card packs 100-MHz 486DX4 processor. With dimensions of only 3.432.2 in., the Cardio-486DX4 PC/AT credit-card-size subsystem operates at speeds as high as 100 MHz and is 100% DOS- and Windows-compatible. The board comes with as much as 32 Mbytes of memory, an SVGA graphics accelerator, 512 kbytes of video RAM, and as much as 4 Mbytes of flash ROM. It also has I/O ports for IDE hard drives (as much as 8.3 Gbytes) and an IrDA-compliant infrared interface on board. A 75-MHz version of Cardio-486DX4 costs $1220 (1000). S-MOS Systems Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 922-0200.

Board builds USB functions around 8-bit MCU. A USB reference-design board, called Maestro, lets you develop peripheral USB products around the vendor's 8-bit M37690 microcontroller core. With Maestro, you need only simulate those USB functions that are required in your particular design, such as the number of end-point FIFOs or DMA channels. The board incorporates all three USB topology elements: host, hub, and function cores. Prices start at $7500. Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 774-3189.

Multichannel system performs 180-MHz state analysis. Equipped with high-speed logic-analyzer modules, the pro Line test and measurement platform provides as many as 512 data channels within a single mainframe, or 2048 channels using four mainframes, at a maximum synchronous clock rate of 180 MHz. For timing analysis, you can operate one-quarter of the channels at 720 MHz. Standard memory depth is 128 kbits/channel, expandable to 2 Mbits. Each data channel is programmable for transitional recording. The pro Line connects to any 486 or Pentium computer and runs under Windows 95 and NT. Prices start at $68,815 for a 192-channel configuration. DLI Digital Logic Instruments GmbH, Dietzenbach, Germany. +49-6074/4002-0.

VMEbus SBC has upgradeable microSPARC II core. Built on a 6U VMEbus board, the V174/175 Minuteman runs on an 85- or 110-MHz microSPARC II engine. You can upgrade the Minuteman to a 200-MHz engine rated at 140 SPECint92 and 100 SPECfp92. Two SBus slots with master/slave capability accommodate any of >300 third-party I/O boards, including graphics engines and color TFT LCD drivers. Workstation functions include AUI or 10BaseT Ethernet, fast and narrow SCSI-2, 1 Mbyte of flash memory, as much as 1 Mbyte of EPROM, 8 kbytes of battery-backed SRAM, real-time clock, two RS-232C serial channels, keyboard and mouse connector, and an ID rotary switch for selecting the VME base address. Prices start at $3595. General Micro Systems, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (909) 980-4863.

Software generates single- and multithreaded C++ code. Version 4 of the BetterState Pro code generator produces C++ source code that supports true pre-emptive multithreading for Windows 95 and NT applications. The upgrade improves BetterState's ability to represent and realize various interpretations and implementations of concurrent activities within statecharts. Prices range between $625 and $995. A custom code generator costs $1995. R-Active Concepts Inc, Cupertino, CA. (408) 252-2808.

Tool suite builds object-oriented software systems. SES/Code Genesis, an object-oriented design and code-generation system, helps you develop complex software applications for embedded systems. Along with other tools in the SES/objectbench suite, the software models, simulates, and tests applications throughout the development process. SES/Code Genesis includes a graphical model that associates templates with object-oriented analysis notations, making it easy to find a specific template. You can customize the design environment using SES/objectbench's query language. SES/Code Genesis costs $44,000; SES/objectbench Editor and Simulator cost $5000 and $20,000, respectively. SES Inc, Austin, TX. (512) 328-5544.

VMEbus enclosure meets MIL-SPEC requirements. Joining the Fullspectrum line of enclosures and workstations, the FS-8718 is an 18-slot 6U VMEbus enclosure that meets MIL-STD-810E, MIL-STD-901D, and MIL-STD-167/1 shock and vibration standards for severe environments. The unit also complies with MIL-STD-461C EMI requirements. Both rack-mount and desktop versions of the FS-8718 are available. Options include security interlocking and thermal monitoring. The FS-8718 comes with an 800W power supply and costs $10,950. AP Labs Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 546-8626.

Audio DSP module has 20-bit analog I/Os. The M7-1216-C stand-alone digital audio-signal-processing module has two 20-bit analog input channels and six 20-bit analog output channels, all of which are differential and have programmable gain. Processing power comes from a 24-bit fixed-point DSP56007 operating at 66 MHz with 1 Mbyte of onboard data memory and a bootstrap program-memory socket. Digital I/O supports both AES/EBU and S/PDIF formats. The M7-1216-C audio module costs $1395. Sample Rate Systems Oy, Tampere, Finland. +358-31-254-2000.

Systems-design-automation software informs designers and customers. Using an animation process that creates high-level visualizations of complex designs, coupled with be-havioral design and analysis tools, Statemate Magnum eases the development of complex embedded systems. This "visual collaboration" provides all project members, as well as the customer, with a clear understanding of the system's dynamic behavior as the product is being designed. You can easily customize the graphical simulation and software-synthesis tool's modular configuration to fit organizational needs. Prices start at $25,000 for the first seat. i-Logix Inc, Andover, MA. (508) 682-2100.

Industrial computer has 17-in. SVGA monitor. In addition to a powerful Pentium processor and standard PC/AT functions, the 9457 industrial computer integrates a 17-in. flat, square SVGA CRT color monitor with a resolution of 128031024 pixels noninterlaced. The system mounts in either a 19-in. rack or panel and has a NEMA 4/4X sealed front-panel with a 28-position numeric keypad, 30 relegendable function/alpha keys, and a built-in sealed mouse. You can configure the 9457 with as much as 32 Mbytes of DRAM. Prices start at $7500. Xycom, Saline, MI. (313) 429-4971.

Ada compiler for 80x86 runs under Windows NT. A development system brings the DACS-80x86 Ada compiler system to Windows NT/PC, generating native applications that run on NT/PCs or remotely on embedded 80x86 targets. Seamless integration makes DACS-PC for Windows NT a suitable choice for cross-development support of the 80x86 on the low-cost PC-host platform. The system provides a GUI to all tools, including a compiler, linker, symbolic Ada debugger, library manager, program builder, stack-size analyzer, disassembler, and assembler. Prices start at $3000 for DACS-PC for Windows NT Native; cross compilers start at $12,000. DDC-I Inc, Phoenix, AZ. (602) 275-7172.