Express Logic Introduces ThreadX(R) V5 - Smallest, Fastest, and Most Capable RTOS Version Ever; ThreadX V5 Makes Device Software Development Easier for Microcontroller-Based Resource-Constrained Applications.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Express Logic, Inc., the worldwide leader in royalty-free real-time operating systems (RTOS), today introduced an enhanced version of its popular ThreadX(R) RTOS. Smaller and faster, ThreadX Version 5.0 (ThreadX V5) provides a better fit for microcontroller-based applications, and adds many new development benefits for all users. Advanced run-time stack analysis, built in trace, Event-Chaining(TM), and priority flexibility enable programmers to identify application problem areas and fine-tune system performance.

With these new features and a continuation of Express Logic's royalty-free licensing model, ThreadX V5 promises to further its market penetration beyond the already extensive 300 million deployments announced today. Dominating in markets such as ink-jet printers, wireless networking, digital cameras, cell phones, medical equipment and specialized imaging systems such as the Deep Impact and Mars Reconaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft, ThreadX has established itself as a highly efficient ideal RTOS for the most demanding real-time applications. ThreadX V5 further aids developers in these application areas by bringing them the following technological enhancements:

1. Smaller and Faster

ThreadX V5 introduces several optimizations to make it even smaller and faster. ThreadX V5 can be configured at compile time down to a ROM footprint under 6KB--making it ideal for resource-constrained microcontroller devices.

2. Real-time Event-Chaining(TM)

ThreadX V5 introduces Event-Chaining(TM), a service that greatly simplifies thread activation in complex real-time situations involving multiple independent events. With this innovation, for example, a thread can wait on multiple messages from several queues, and a notify callback simply posts a single semaphore, reducing the number of threads and associated resources required for processing.

3. Run-Time Performance Metrics

To help developers improve device performance and extend product battery life, ThreadX V5 provides performance visibility into:

--Thread resumptions or suspensions

--Solicited thread or asynchronous thread interrupt preemptions

--Thread priority inversions

--Thread time-slices

--Thread relinquishes, timeouts or thread suspensions aborted

--Last thread that preempted

4. Run-Time Stack Analysis

ThreadX V5 can analyze thread stacks during run-time to determine stack overflow or underflow conditions before threads are executed.

5. Instant Replay Built-in Trace

ThreadX V5 comes with built-in event trace capability that captures the last "n" system events in a user-supplied circular buffer on the target system. This data may be viewed in target memory or exported to the host and viewed graphically in development tools that provide such features.

6. Simplified Timer Interrupt

ThreadX V5 can execute all software timers directly from the timer ISR, eliminating the need for system timer thread resources and context switching.

7. Priority Flexibility

With ThreadX V5, developers can use up to 1024 distinct priority levels, in increments of 32.

"ThreadX V5 raises the bar for real-time operating systems by increasing its advantages over other RTOSes in the areas of memory footprint, real-time performance, and developer ease of use," commented William E. Lamie, president of Express Logic. "We expect ThreadX V5 to open the door to new microcontroller applications, as well as to further benefit developers of devices based on traditional 32-bit RISC processors. This new release of ThreadX will be followed soon by new versions of our NetX(TM) TCP/IP network stack, our FileX(R) file system, and our USBX(TM) USB stack, all combining to give the developer -- our customer -- the best RTOS possible for device develpment."

ThreadX V5 is supported with development tools from Altera, Analog Devices, ARC, ARM, Freescale, Green Hills, IAR, MIPS, Wind River, Xilinx, and GNU. Processor architectures supported include ADI's Blackfin, ARC's 600/700, ARM's ARM7/9/11/Cortex M3, Freescale's PowerPC/ColdFire/StarCore, MIPS' 4k/24k/34k, Xilinx's MicroBlaze, Altera's NIOS II, and many others.

Shipping and Availability

ThreadX V5 is available now, with royalty-free licenses starting at $12,500.

About Express Logic

Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Express Logic offers the most advanced run-time solution for deeply embedded applications, including the popular ThreadX(R) RTOS, the high-performance NetX(TM) TCP/IP stack, the FileX(R) embedded MS-DOS compatible file system, and the USBX(TM) Host/Device USB protocol stack. All products from Express Logic include full source-code and have no run-time royalties. For more information about Express Logic solutions, please visit www.expresslogic.com, call 1-888-THREADX, or email inquires to [e-mail].

ThreadX and FileX are registered trademarks, and NetX, CANX, USBX, preemption-threshold, picokernel, UDP fast path technology, are trademarks of Express Logic, Inc. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.