CAST RELEASES 80186-COMPATIBLE PROCESSOR CORE.Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc. has announced the addition of the C80186TX Microprocessor core to its line of general purpose IP (gpIP) for electronic design. Fully software-compatible with the popular Intel 80C186 but up to six times faster, the new core is an excellent choice for many embedded controller Controller circuitry built into a device or on the main system board, in contrast with a removable card or module. applications, and it provides a cost-effective alternative for replacing older parts that are no longer manufactured. "The `186 is one of the most popular 16-bit processors in the entire world," said Bill Finch, vice president of sales for CAST. "This fast-running version raises the high end of our gpIP product line, and gives designers a great processor core with the low price, easy licensing, and tremendous support CAST is known for." The new C80186TX core is 100% software compatible with the x86 standard and is exchangeable with the similar parts from manufacturers such as Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. . It uses single-clock memory access and an architecture that optimizes execution time to perform operations up to six times faster than a traditional '186 running at the same clock frequency. CAST believes it to be one of the very fastest 80186 designs available. The core has a broad set of integrated peripherals, which helps reduce system development time and cost. These include four DMA (1) (Digital Media Adapter) See digital media hub. (2) (Document Management Alliance) A specification that provides a common interface for accessing and searching document databases. channels, multiple timers, a programmable interrupt controller See PIC. (integrated circuit) Programmable Interrupt Controller - PIC A special-purpose integrated circuit that functions as an overall manager in an interrupt driven system. , a memory refresh unit, programmable DRAM controller, variable-rate asynchronous Refers to events that are not synchronized, or coordinated, in time. The following are considered asynchronous operations. The interval between transmitting A and B is not the same as between B and C. The ability to initiate a transmission at either end. serial ports, flexible chip select unit, and a peripherals control block with advanced power management. The 100% software compatibility of the C80186TX core means that developers can confidently use it with the very broad set of compilers, debugging aids, and general technical knowledge that has grown around this popular processor. Developed by CAST partner and microprocessor experts Evatronix S.A., the new core is available immediately in 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. form for 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. synthesis or optimized for selected FPGAs. Pricing varies by region; customers should contact their local distributor or CAST for details. CAST provides a broad line of general-purpose IP cores, including 8- and 16-bit processors, peripherals, buses, network interfaces, communications devices, multimedia operations, and encryption functions. Privately-owned, the company's IP revenue grew 50% in 2001 due to its popular product line and lean operations model. Operating since 1993 with a focus on making IP practical and affordable for mainstream designers, the company has established a reputation for high-quality products, flexible licensing, and responsive technical support. The company is located near New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , and works with an international network of IP developers and distributors. |
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