Aptix, ARM and Agilent Introduce an Integrated SOC Validation Platform for Embedded System Design.Business Editors and High-Tech Writers Embedded Systems Conference SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2001 Platform Targets Embedded HW/SW HW/SW Hardware/Software Co-Design, Including Wireless Applications San Jose-based Aptix Corp., a prototyping and verification company, whose products are used to verify embedded system-on-chip (SoC) designs, ARM ((LSE LSE - Language Sensitive Editor :ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY)), the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor technology and Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) Tuesday announced that they have co-operated and developed a validation platform to address the needs of embedded system designers. The new validation platform allows for faster "out-of-the-box" design validation of embedded systems using ARM(R) core-based microprocessors. The integrated platform reduces design validation time from months to days and uses products from Aptix, ARM and Agilent. The platform includes Aptix's System Explorer(TM) or Software Integration Station(TM) with its new interface to ARM's widely-used Integrator(TM) SoC development platforms, the ARM Integrator ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. development platform with Core Modules and Agilent's logic and Trace Port Analyzer. "Our goal is to reduce time to market for embedded system designers," said Dr. Amr Mosen, Aptix chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "The combination of our technologies gives customers an integrated validation platform for hardware, firmware and applications software co-development. This offers a significant breakthrough for time-critical embedded systems including automotive, consumer and wireless applications such as WCDMA (Wideband CDMA) A 3G high-speed digital data service provided by cellular carriers that use the TDMA or GSM technology worldwide, including AT&T (formerly Cingular) and T-Mobile in the U.S. , Bluetooth or 802.11." "Our customers need the best design tools to achieve faster validation of their ARM core-based embedded systems," said Gordon Stubberfield, product manager, ARM. "The combination of Aptix's verification systems interfaced to ARM's Integrator Core Modules combined with Agilent's analyzers helps them to achieve their goals." "Logic analyzers and trace-port analyzers provide design teams with visibility into system behavior. Agilent's solutions, when coupled with the Aptix System Explorer, enable customers to monitor nodes that would normally be hidden from designers," said Alois Hauk, VP of Agilent's Design Validation group. "Both hardware and software engineers benefit from internal visibility. Both the logic and trace port analyzers can be used during final system validation as well." Benefits Open, Fast, Lower Cost Replicates for SW Validation The SoC validation platform's openness allows it to include DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive cores, bus interfaces such as USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. and PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). , as well as hardware, software and existing and future ARM processor cores. At 20MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. , the speed is the fastest available for validation of ARM core-based SoCs. Each ARM Integrator evaluation board supports up to four ARM core modules, and each System Explorer from Aptix can accommodate 10 ARM Integrator boards. Members of the software team can use the lower cost (desktop) Software Integration Station from Aptix in place Aptix's System Explorer. Better Debugging -- Bridging the Gap Between HW and SW Design To isolate bugs, Aptix's propriety incremental debugging technology allows each FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) A type of gate array that is programmed in the field rather than in a semiconductor fab. Containing up to hundreds of thousands of gates, there are a variety of FPGA architectures on the market. node of the embedded system that is represented in the Aptix System Explorer to be visible and viewed by an Agilent logic analyzer. Using the unique trigger in/out feature of the Agilent Trace Port Analyzer, cross triggering between the HW and SW is possible. This allows HW triggers to cause SW breakpoints and SW breakpoints to trigger the Logic Analyzer. Once stopped the ARM core's execution and the state of the SoC designs logic may be viewed. About ARM Cores A major strength of the ARM range of microprocessor cores lies in the fact that the processor families share a common base architecture. This ensures that developers gain the maximum return on time invested in software development as they move up the performance scale to faster processors, while maintaining full backward compatibility. This full system compatibility ensures that development and verification tools will continue to be compatible with future new cores introduced to the range. About Aptix Products The System Explorer from Aptix uses the latest Xilinx technology and is a single-board emulation platform for integration and validation of intellectual property (IP) and software in SoC designs. Multi-MHz operating speed enables near real-time, in-system verification. Co-simulation interfaces link to popular simulators. The small form factor and low cost enables emulation to be applied in ways that were previously impossible. The Software Integration Station from Aptix allows software developers to start code development and integration as soon as hardware designers have a prototype version of their design ready. With it, boot code, drivers, diagnostics and test programs can be developed and debugged before silicon is available. About Agilent Products The Agilent E5904B is an integrated JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) An IEEE standard for boundary scan technology. See scan technology. JTAG - Joint Test Action Group emulator and Trace Port Analyzer that combines tools for run control, code download, register access, and real-time execution trace for a complete debug environment. This tool supports the ARM Real-Time Trace(TM) software and RealMonitor(TM) software for full speed real-time system debug of ASICs that include the ARM7(TM) or ARM9(TM) family microprocessor cores with the ARM Embedded Trace Macrocell(TM). Price and Availability The validation platform components are available now directly from Aptix, ARM and Agilent. Prices for the Aptix products start at $75,000 (USD USD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the U.S. Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. ) and include the new Integrator interface. The ARM Integrator platform is available now from ARM and starts at $3,000 (USD). Agilent Logic Analyzers for real-time trace port analysis, and cross correlation of external buses are available now from Agilent and range in price from $8,000 to $35,000 (USD). About Aptix Aptix Corp.'s products are used to verify system and SoC designs prior to integrated circuit (IC) and board tape-out and fabrication. Visit Aptix on the Web at http://www.aptix.com. About ARM ARM is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-on-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, handheld computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at www.arm.com. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. With 48,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion in fiscal year 2000. Information about Agilent can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com. Notes to editors: Pictures and graphics available on request. Acronyms ASIC: Application Specific IC DSP: Digital Signal Processing See DSP. Digital Signal Processing - (DSP) Computer manipulation of analog signals (commonly sound or image) which have been converted to digital form (sampled). FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array See FPGA. HW: Hardware IC: Integrated Circuit JTAG: Joint Test Action Group IP: Intellectual Property PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect See PCI. (hardware) Peripheral Component Interconnect - (PCI) A standard for connecting peripherals to a personal computer, designed by Intel and released around Autumn 1993. PCI is supported by most major manufacturers including Apple Computer. RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer (processor) Reduced Instruction Set Computer - (RISC) A processor whose design is based on the rapid execution of a sequence of simple instructions rather than on the provision of a large variety of complex instructions (as in a Complex Instruction Set Computer). SoC: System-on-Chip SW: Software USB: Universal Serial Bus See USB. (hardware, standard) Universal Serial Bus - (USB) An external peripheral interface standard for communication between a computer and external peripherals over an inexpensive cable using biserial transmission. Aptix is a registered trademark of Aptix Corp. System Explorer and Software Integration Station are trademarks of Aptix Corp. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ARM7, ARM9, ARM Real-Time Trace, ARM RealMonitor, Embedded Trace Macrocell and Integrator are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Sweden. All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
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