Bold new development tool integrates microcontroller cores and ASICs; total system integration capability can significantly reduce development time.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 1996--NEC Electronics Inc. and Microsystem Synthesis Inc. Monday introduced a new type of development tool that allows engineers to integrate microcontroller cores, standard macros and user-defined logic into a single application-specific integrated circuit (hardware) Application-Specific Integrated Circuit - (ASIC) An integrated circuit designed to perform a particular function by defining the interconnection of a set of basic circuit building blocks drawn from a library provided by the circuit manufacturer. (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. ). Jointly developed by the two companies for NEC's KO microcontroller family, this new development tool, the KO-Integrated Development Environment System (KO-IDE System) represents a radical departure from conventional development tools, enabling total system integration/emulation capabilities that can in many cases reduce system development time by up to several months. "The key to successful new product development in cost-sensitive applications is time to market," said David Lamarr, NEC (NEC Corporation, Tokyo, www.nec.com, www.necus.com) An electronics conglomerate known in the U.S. for its monitors. In Japan, it had the lion's share of the PC market until the late 1990s (see PC 98). NEC was founded in Tokyo in 1899 as Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. Electronics Inc., senior marketing manager for the microcontroller business unit. "Our new development system enables designers to create, control and then debug To correct a problem in hardware or software. Debugging software means locating the errors in the source code (the program logic). Debugging hardware means finding errors in the circuit design (logical circuits) or in the physical interconnections of the circuits. the interaction between user-defined logic, microcontroller cores and standard ASIC macros without having to develop system hardware first," said Lamarr. "The result is shortened design time and reduced costs for NEC's customers." KO-IDE System Technical Features The KO-IDE System integrates a KO-microcontroller core, standard macros and user-defined logic in a development environment that combines traditional in-circuit emulator See ICE. (ICE) functions (i.e. break point, trace buffer, full memory display) with real-time hardware emulation. This allows for the simultaneous development of hardware and software, particularly in the early stages of system design when tradeoffs between the two can be optimized. Target system configuration and re-configuration are done completely through Windows-based software tools, without requiring jumpers or switches to be set. Users merely select their desired peripherals, map their user-defined logic directly into field-programmable logic devices that enable up to 30K usable gates, then configure interconnections of the design via field-programmable cross-point, solid-state switches. The KO-IDE System provides software debugging, hardware debugging, system behavior analysis features and a 256-channel logic analyzer with a 65,536-sample memory. It is capable of generating automatic system test vectors and input stimulus for hardware description languages (HDL (Hardware Description Language) A language used to describe the functions of an electronic circuit for documentation, simulation or logic synthesis (or all three). Although many proprietary HDLs have been developed, Verilog and VHDL are the major standards. ) simulation. In addition, the KO-IDE System supports real-time emulation and the verification of hardware models written in HDL. It also provides timing information on the microcontroller core, its peripherals and user logic by tracing signals of interest in real-time, allowing designers to examine operation of the system by looking at traced data in a waveform display. KO Family Designed for applications involving basic control and human interface, the KO family is ideal for consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and , appliance controls and appliance electronics, like hand-held instrumentation, electronic control systems, 900 MHz (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. cordless phones, caller I.D., utility meters, security systems and remote controls. In addition, the KO family of microcontrollers can be used in low-power portable applications, such as beepers and pagers. Its peripheral devices offer direct drive liquid crystal display liquid crystal display (LCD) Optoelectronic device used in displays for watches, calculators, notebook computers, and other electronic devices. Current passed through specific portions of the liquid crystal solution causes the crystals to align, blocking the passage of light. (LCD) controllers, fluorescent indicator panel (FIP FIP feline infectious peritonitis. ) drivers, A/D A/D See advance-decline line (A/D). and D/A converters and many other digital peripheral functional macros. The KO family also includes parts with low-voltage operation and low electromagnetic interference See EMI. (EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) An electrical disturbance in a system due to natural phenomena, low-frequency waves from electromechanical devices or high-frequency waves (RFI) from chips and other electronic devices. Allowable limits are governed by the FCC. ) emissions. Read only memory (ROM), one-time-programmable (OTP (1) (One Time Programmable) Refers to programming content or logic into chips such as EPROMs and EEPROMs, which cannot be reversed. See antifuse. (2) (One Time P ) and flash versions are available along with low-cost development boards and comprehensive development tools, such as software simulators, C, ICEs and debuggers. Pricing and Availability The KO-IDE System is available now, priced at approximately $16,000 per development system. More specific pricing and delivery information can be obtained by contacting NEC Electronics directly. About NEC NEC Electronics, with headquarters in Mountain View, manufactures and markets an extensive line of electronic products including ASICs, microprocessors and microcontrollers, 3D graphics processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), memories and components including flat-panel displays. In 1995, the company ranked fourth in semiconductor sales in the United States/a. The company operates a 676,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif. NEC Electronics Inc. is an affiliate of NEC Corp. (NIPNY), a $41 billion international manufacturer of computer, communications and semiconductor products. About Microsystem Synthesis Inc. Microsystem Synthesis is based in Westborough, Mass. Founded in 1992, Microsystem Synthesis Inc. designs and builds emulation systems for a variety of microprocessors and microcontrollers, and offers design services for custom devices based on microprocessor cores. -0- NOTE: KO is a trademark of NEC Corp. FIP is a registered trademark of NEC Corp. Windows is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corp. NOTE TO EDITORS: For photos and/or block diagrams of the KO-IDE System, please contact Mark Hall at 310/226-3046. NOTE /a: According to Dataquest. CONTACT: NEC Electronics Inc., Mountain View Reader contact: 800/366-9782, 800/729-9288 (fax) Media contact: Jim Lucas, 415/965-6620 jnlucas@el.nec.com or Cohn & Wolfe Mark Hall, 310/226-3046, mark_hall@yr.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion