The Embedded Systems Conference: Brave the cold, see the products, learn new skills

Okay, so Chicago might not be your first choice of places to visit in mid-winter. But the Embedded Systems Conference has enough to offer to make the trip worthwhile.

By Staff -- EDN, 2/17/2000

Okay, so Chicago might not be your first choice of places to visit in mid-winter. But the Embedded Systems Conference has enough to offer to make the trip worthwhile. Any hardware or software engineer and developer who designs embedded systems will want to attend one or more of the 98 classes and tutorials on embedded Internet, Java, C and C++, debugging, networking, and DSP. You can learn how UML is helping build the next generation of real-time systems and find out about visual development tools. Afterwards, warm up at the "Leap Into the Caribbean Zone" party and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to the Bahamas. But don't forget about products: More than 160 companies will be showing everything you need for your next project. If you can't make it, check below for a preview of some of the products that will be displayed or discussed at the show. It's all happening February 28 to March 2 at McCormick Place South, Chicago, IL. For more information, call (415) 278-5231 or check out www.embedded.com.

ICE operates as fast as 40 MHz.

The iceMaster-SF in-circuit emulator provides real-time transparent emulation at maximum frequencies of 40 MHz. It works with most interchangeable MetaLink 8051 probe cards and handles more than 50 devices, including Dallas Semiconductor's DS87C390 and DS87C550 µCs. In addition to 1 Mbyte of emulation memory, the iceMaster-SF offers 64-kbyte trace, bank switching, stamping, and a Windows-based host interface. A command window allows you to create macrolike routines for repetitive testing. The iceMaster-SF costs about $5000. MetaLink Corp, 1-480-926-0797, www.metaice.com.

Prototyping environment speeds embedded-system design.

PC-in-the-Loop is an environment that allows rapid prototyping and system-level testing of real-time embedded systems on a PC before target hardware is available. You can continue development and testing in parallel with hardware design, accelerating the design process and harnessing the capabilities of hardware-in-the-loop simulation. Available on Windows and Unix platforms, PC-in-the-Loop works on the xPC Target Embedded Option and requires Matlab, Simulink, and Real-Time Workshop. Prices start at less than $4000 for xPC Target, which includes all software-and device-driver libraries for more than 40 commercially available I/O boards. The MathWorks Inc, 1-508-647-7000, www.mathworks.com.

TCP/IP stack runs on embedded processors.

CMX-TCP/IP is a portable, ROMable networking stack for embedded processors, including Philips 8051-XA; Hitachi H8/300H and H8S/2000; Infineon 80C16X; Mitsubishi M16C; 80X86 (real and protected modes); and Motorola 68K, CPU32, PowerPC, and ColdFire. It uses the CMX-RTX real-time operating-system signaling mechanisms to provide a true multitasking re-entrant stack. When an RTOS is unavailable, CMX-TCP/IP provides one straightforward threaded stack that supports multiple sockets via the select multiplexer. Prices start at $7500. CMX Co, 1-508-872-7675, www.cmx.com.

IDE manages embedded-design projects.

For developing embedded applications with Cosmic C cross-compilers, the Idea integrated development environment combines an editor, a project manager, a graphical smart-build/make facility, a program analyzer, a link-file generator, a documentation manager, and the Zap debugger in one environment running under Windows 95/98/NT. The program analyzer's Explorer-style source-file window displays compiler options, including file dependencies, file-build status, time and date of last edit, function prototypes, command-line defines, global and static variables, and documentation. All of Cosmic's C cross-compilers provide Idea at no additional cost. Cosmic Software Inc, 1-781-932-2556, www.cosmic-software.com.

IDE targets Java applications.

VisualAge Micro Edition, an integrated development environment and tool set, lets you create Java applications that connect small, embedded, intelligent devices to enterprise back-end systems over the Internet. Three configurable versions of optimized class libraries are available for those environments needing them, including a small library designed to occupy less than 100 kbytes of memory. A linker eliminates unneeded classes and methods when using the optimized class libraries, according to the embedded-device profile. It strips, packages, and bundles application classes with resources such as bit maps and audio clips in a form suitable for embedded devices. Entry prices start at $1000. IBM Corp, Object Technology Inc, 1-602-569-3800, www.ibm.com/software/ad.

Kit implements tiny Internet-enabled development platform.

Offering a complete development environment that is half the size of a credit card, the meNet 12 evaluation kit combines emWare's Emit device-networking software and microEngineering Labs' prototyping board outfitted with a PIC12C67X eight-pin µC. Sample programs demonstrate the board's pushbutton state, light level, and control of the LED from a host PC. You can perform interfacing with the demo board locally or from anywhere over the Internet. The meNet 12 evaluation kit is $89.95. emWare Inc, 1-801-453-9300, www.emware.com.

Software accelerates Ethernet factory-floor response time.

By slashing the time required to process and execute commands over Ethernet networks, the Net1fast IP software module removes the barrier of using Ethernet in high-speed real-time industrial automation applications. With the Net1fast IP module, working with the Net1Works family of Internet/Ethernet-based embedded networking products, you can deliver Ethernet-connected applications that require a deterministic response. A Net1fast IP-enabled Net1Works environment consistently generates response times of 240 to 250 msec—as fast as proprietary buses such as Profibus and DeviceNet. The module is available as an option for NET1Works. A runtime license costs $3 (10,000). Netsilicon Inc, 1-781-647-1234, www.netsilicon.com.

Debugging tool monitors multiple processors.

SystemTrace allows you to visually compare software execution across multiple processors running at full speed to expose application bottlenecks and timing errors. The combination hardware/software bundle provides code-performance information with minimal intrusion into software execution and microsecond-level synchronized-timing information. SystemTrace lets you see how applications interact on multiprocessor systems and where you can optimize code to enhance performance. It also monitors and time-correlates data between multiple processor nodes across VMEbus or Raceway backplanes. Prices start at $13,000. ITCN, 1-937-439-2648, www.itcninc.com.

Half-size CPU board has PC/104-Plus interface.

Powered by a 266-MHz Intel Tillamook MMX CPU, this 7.3×4.8-in. embedded computer board provides both ISA and PC/104-Plus interfaces. The SBC-558 also offers CRT/LCD, 100BaseTX Ethernet, Infrared Data Association, and Universal Serial Bus interfaces. A 144-pin SO-DIMM socket accommodates as much as 128 Mbytes of memory, and another socket lets you install a maximum of 288 Mbytes of DiskOnChip flash memory. The board requires 15 and 112V supplies, typically drawing 2A at 15V. APM 1.2-compliant power-management features include doze, standby, and suspend modes. The SBC-558 costs about $530, not including memory (low quantities). Aaeon Electronics Inc,1-732-203-9300, www.aaeon.com.

Surface-mount supply delivers 30W.

Joining the SM series of dc/dc converters is the SM30, a 30W supply that is light enough to be handled by pick-and-place equipment. The device's 2.5×2.5-in. and 0.4-in.-high surface-mount package allows it to meet tight card-pitch requirements. It has a 10-msec start-up time for hot-plug conditions and accepts 24 or 48V nominal inputs for use in wireless/cellular and central-office telecomm applications. In addition to carrying UL1459 and BS6301 approvals, the SM30 offers ETSI compliance for European telecomm systems. Prices start at $40 (OEM). Lambda Electronics Inc, 1-516-694-4200, www.lambdapower.com.

In addition to dual PMC-expansion sites, the MCPN765 CompactPCI computer board supplies as much as 1 Gbyte of memory and dual Ethernet interfaces. The MCPN765 offers a choice of the MPC7400 PowerPC with AltiVec technology or the PowerPC 750 operating at speeds faster than 466 MHz. Compliant with PICMG hot-swap specifications, the board operates in nonsystem slots, allowing the configuration of loosely coupled multiprocessor systems. It occupies one CompactPCI slot, even when fully configured with 1 Gbyte of memory and two PMC modules. Prices start at $1995 when outfitted with a 233-MHz PowerPC 750 CPU and $2595 with a 400-MHz MPC7400 and 2 Mbytes of L2 cache. Motorola Computer Group, 1-800-759-1107, www.mcg.mot.com.

Half-size board leverages proprietary BIOS.

This Socket 370 single-board computer with a PCI golden finger packs a VGA/LCD controller and SmartView BIOS. SmartView facilitates LCD setup by providing 16 VGA settings in CMOS. It also includes display-during-post and display-after-post functions for point-of-sale and kiosk applications. An Intel Celeron processor operating as fast as 466 MHz, accompanied by a 100-MHz front-side bus, with a maximum of 128 Mbytes of fast-page-mode/extended-data-out RAM, 2 Mbytes of flash ROM, and 512 kbytes of synchronous L2 cache, powers The SBC8260VE half-size computer board. In addition to the standard complement of I/O interfaces, the SBC8260VE offers a 10/100BaseT Ethernet interface. Prices start at $350. Axiom Technology Inc, 1-626-934-1199, www.axiomtek.com.

Visualization tools allow instant analysis.

ScopeTools 2.0 for the Tornado II integrated development environment comprises tools for data monitoring, execution tracing, performance tuning, and memory analysis. All four tools feature instant analysis, providing one-touch operation without code instrumentation or recompilation. ScopeTools lets you analyze data activities, CPU performance, memory usage, and function traces on production code running at full speed. Prices for the Tornado Professional package with the ScopeTools suite start at $5995. Real-Time Innovations Inc, 1-408-720-8312, www.rti.com.

Tool generates test cases from design models.

TestComposer for ObjectGeode automatically generates test suites from SDL models and test objectives and effectively generates black-box-conformance tests according to the ISO/IEC 9646 standard. TestComposer, which works within the ObjectGeode integrated environment for developing distributed real-time systems, generates test suites in either message-sequence charts or tree and tabular combined-notation format. Error-free test cases ensure functional and structural model coverage. Prices start at $10,000. CS Verilog, 1-972-241-6595, www.csverilog.com.

Plug-in computer measures 2.5×4 in.

Almost exactly the size of an audio-cassette tape, the fully functional CPC-2245 computer operates as a stand-alone unit or as a plug-in processor on a larger board. A 486 CPU powers the CPC-2245, in addition to 8 kbytes of cache memory, 32 Mbytes of RAM, and a VGA interface with a 64-bit accelerator. The board also provides 10/100BaseT Ethernet, serial, parallel, floppy-drive, and hard-drive interfaces. A CompactFlash socket accommodates as much as 144 Mbytes of solid-state flash memory. The CPC-2245 costs less than $400 (fewer than 10). Advantech Technologies Inc, 1-949-789-7178, www.advantech.com.

RTOS-simulation environment aids PowerPC development.

Isim, an instruction-set simulator for the Integrity real-time operating system, allows you to develop and test embedded applications on your PC or workstation without target hardware. As an addition to the Multi integrated development environment, Isim is initially available for PowerPC processors and accommodates virtual memory, exception handling, and debugging across a LAN. Isim runs on Windows 95/98/NT and Solaris 2.X host platforms. Unlike conventional RTOS simulators that run as native Unix or PC applications, Isim simulates the RTOS using the same PowerPC code that runs on the target. It can also simulate Integrity-based PowerPC applications at a speed of nearly 2 MIPS on a 550-MHz Pentium III. Isim costs $2500/user. An Integrity RTOS and Multi bundle costs $7900/user on a PC and $10,900/user on a Unix system. Green Hills Software Inc, 1-805-965-6044, www.ghs.com.