Cypress Microsystems Announces Availability of PSoC Microcontrollers With Dynamically Reconfigurable On-Chip Peripherals.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2001 Versatile Architecture Enables Multi-function Designs From User-defined Analog, Digital Blocks for Industrial, Control, Consumer and Communication Applications EMBEDDED SYSTEMS Embedded systems Computer systems that cannot be programmed by the user because they are preprogrammed for a specific task and are buried within the equipment they serve. CONFERENCE--Cypress Microsystems today announces the availability the PSoC(TM) (Programmable System on Chip) Microcontroller family of system-on-a-chip microcontrollers, which replace traditional microcontrollers along with many of the other components typically found in 8-bit microcontroller designs. The PSoC microcontroller technology is based upon configurable peripherals, allowing each member of the family to replace hundreds of traditional, fixed-peripheral microcontrollers while building a true system-on-chip. The PSoC Microcontroller family eliminates the constant search for the perfect fit, always delivering the exact peripheral required in the design. Combined with the ability to incorporate many other system components, this new family will reduce system costs, speed time to market, and allow the customer to standardize on one vendor and one architecture. With this new family, called the CY8C25x/26x, the customer engineer selects the exact peripheral types and quantities, how they interconnect, and how they pin-out to the circuit board by setting a few values into registers. This approach even supports dynamic configuration and re-configuration. By changing register settings, the microcontroller can completely change its configuration to support the changing state of an application. As an example, in a two-way communication Two-way communication is a form of transmission in which both parties involved transmit information. Common forms of two-way communication are:
(2) (Multipoint Control Unit) A device that is used to moderate a videoconference of three or more end points (users at computers or groups of users . When the user presses the "talk" button, the MCU will reconfigure the peripherals to create a "transmitter" MCU. Release the button, and it becomes a "receiver" again. Furthermore, this FLASH-based MCU can be programmed as late as final in-circuit test. This means that software and hardware can be developed in parallel instead of sequentially, greatly reducing time to manufacture and market. Also, systems already in the field can be electronically upgraded or modified, further enhancing design flexibility. The PSoC microcontroller family integrates a fast, 8-bit microcontroller, 8K to 32K flash memory, SRAM See static RAM. SRAM - static random-access memory and programmable arrays of analog and digital system functions -- known as PSoC blocks - in low-cost, small-footprint packages. To save design time, Cypress MicroSystems Cypress MicroSystems (CMS) markets high-performance, field Programmable System-on-a-Chip (PSoC) integrated M8 micro-based solutions. CMS is based in Lynnwood, near Seattle, Washington and was established as a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation in the fourth quarter of also offers User modules -- pre-designed peripherals built using these PSoC blocks. By selecting a PSoC microcontroller with the chosen combination of memory, PSoC blocks and pins, designers have a device that can be configured to any application and reduces costs by eliminating external chips and simplifying system design. Simplified Custom Solutions "Although there are thousands of different 8-bit microcontrollers on the market, designers continually have trouble finding the perfect fit for their application. Although there are just a few different types of peripherals, getting the right combination of types and quantities of things like timers, counters and serial I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output , has spawned these thousands of part numbers," said Michael Polen, VP of Marketing, Cypress MicroSystems, Inc. "By including configurable analog functions, the flexibility extends beyond the traditional microcontroller space to a true system-on-chip, reducing total system cost and increasing design flexibility. Engineers know that the perfect solution is a custom-designed system-on-a-chip, but custom microcontrollers, ASICs and PLDs are expensive, require very large volumes or call for specialized design skills. The PSoC microcontroller makes every chip a "custom" with no NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) Refers to the cost of creating a new product, which is paid up front. Contrast with "production cost," which is ongoing and based on the quantity of material produced. expense, no design delay and no minimum quantities," continued Polen. PSoC Blocks and User Modules After reviewing peripherals found in microcontrollers and the analog ICs used in typical designs, Cypress MicroSystems engineers selected a variety of digital and analog peripherals. They then created PSoC blocks, or system-on-a-chip blocks, and integrated them into each PSoC device. Users select the functions they need and configure the PSoC blocks on the microcontroller accordingly. Digital PSoC blocks are 8-bit peripherals that can be programmed to perform a variety of functions by changing the contents of a few registers. These PSoC blocks can be configured as timers, controllers, serial communications See serial transmission and serial. ports, CRC (Cyclical Redundancy Checking) An error checking technique used to ensure the accuracy of transmitting digital data. The transmitted messages are divided into predetermined lengths which, used as dividends, are divided by a fixed divisor. generators, or pseudo-random number generators. These blocks can also be connected in series to handle more complex functions -- for example, a 24-bit timer is three connected 8-bit PSoC blocks acting as timers. Analog PSoC blocks consist of programmable operational amplifier operational amplifier, amplifier whose output voltage is proportional to the negative of its input voltage and that boosts the amplitude of an input signal many times, i.e., has a very high gain. circuits that can be configured to perform a set of typical analog peripheral functions. Analog PSoC blocks can be programmed by setting a few registers to interconnect and trim the appropriate operational amplifier circuit to create the desired result. Among the typical peripherals that can be created are amplifiers, DACs, ADCs, analog drivers, and high-, low- and band-pass filters. To eliminate the need for customers to understand program and set the PSoC blocks directly, and to further shorten development time, Cypress MicroSystems developed User modules, pre-configured peripherals created from PSoC blocks. The term User module, rather than peripheral, signifies the peripheral function, plus a complete applications programmer See application programmer. interface (API), plus the ability to be interconnected with other user modules to perform system-on-chip functions. Supporting Development Tools Cypress MicroSystems offers a complete set of development tools to support the PSoC Microcontroller. All of the necessary function and capability is provided, all at a price well below competitive offerings. The tools include a C compiler Noun 1. C compiler - a compiler for programs written in C compiling program, compiler - (computer science) a program that decodes instructions written in a higher order language and produces an assembly language program and assembler, a linker, a debugger, the Device Editor(TM), and an in-circuit emulator See ICE. . The Device Editor and its graphical interface See GUI. helps the user configure a PSoC device by dragging the desired peripherals or functions -- from a library of User modules -- into the part. The selected User modules are then automatically mapped onto the available PSoC blocks. An important part of the business plan was to provide development tools at a price that made it easy to move to this new technology. As an example, the $150 PSoC(TM) ICE provides the capabilities that engineers are used to obtaining for $2,000 and more. Pricing and Availability The PSoC CY8C25x/26x microcontroller family -- consists of 15 highly integrated products. They feature 512 bytes of configuration and I/O control registers, 128 or 256 bytes of SRAM, and 4K, 8K or 16K Bytes of flash program space. Operating voltages range are 5.0V +/- 10% and 3.3V +/- 10%. The part also has a built in charge pump A charge pump is an electronic circuit that uses capacitors as energy storage elements to create either a higher or lower voltage power source. Charge pump circuits are capable of high efficiencies, sometimes as high as 90-95% while being electrically simple circuits. to support single battery operation. The following devices are available now. Pricing shown is $US for 1,000 unit quantities, and will vary with package selection. CY8C25122 24 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. 8-pin DIP $1.76 CY8C26233 24 MHz 20-pin DIP20-pin SOIC (Small Outline IC) A small-dimension, plastic, rectangular, surface mount chip package that uses gull-wing pins extending outward. See gull-wing lead, SOJ and chip package. 20-pin SSOP SSOP Shrink Small Outline Package SSOP Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (USDA) SSOP Sanitary Standard Operating Procedures SSOP Sharescan-Open Platform (Ecopy) SSOP Site Security Operational Procedures $2.21 CY8C26443 24 MHz 28-pin DIP28-pin SOIC28-pin SSOP $2.79 CY8C26643 24 MHz 48-pin DIP48-pin SSOP48-pin TQFP See QFP. $3.53 About Cypress Microsystems Cypress Microsystems designs, develops, manufactures and markets high-performance, field programmable integrated micro-based solutions for high-volume embedded control functions in computer, communications, consumer and control applications. Established as a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation in the fourth quarter of 1999, Cypress Microsystems's stockholders are its employees and Cypress Semiconductor. The close association with Cypress Semiconductor allows access to their process and design technology, and field sales and applications forces. Cypress Microsystems is based near Seattle in Bothell, Washington. The Cypress Microsystems PsoC(TM) family of programmable system-on-a-chip devices will replace many MCU-based system boards with one single-chip, programmable PSoC. A single PSoC device provides a fast microcontroller, SONOS SONOS Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (semiconductor memory technology) SONOS Semiconductor Oxide Nitride Oxide Semiconductor (memory) (TM) FLASH and SRAM memory, and configurable analog and digital peripheral blocks in a range of convenient pin outs and memory sizes. This new product family will bring the cost and time-to-market advantages of programmable technologies, such as CPLDs and FPGAs, to the emerging system-on-a-chip marketplace. More information about Cypress Microsystems and its products can be accessed through its Web site at www.cypressmicro.com. "Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Cypress Semiconductor's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" involving risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the effect of global economic conditions, shifts in supply and demand, market acceptance, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and capacity and supply constraints. Please refer to Cypress Semiconductor's Securities and Exchange Commission filings for a discussion of such risks. Note to Editors: PSoC, PSoC Designer, and Device Editor are trademarks of Cypress Microsystems. |
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