Express Logic Launches ThreadX(R) MCU Edition for Microchip Technology's PIC24 Microcontrollers and dsPIC(R) DSCs.Multithreading Multitasking within a single program. It allows multiple streams of execution to take place concurrently within the same program, each stream processing a different transaction or message. RTOS (1) (RealTime Operating System) An operating system designed for use in a real time computer system. See real time system, embedded system, process control and OS-9. for industry-leading 16-bit controllers SAN DIEGO San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Calif. -- Express Logic, Inc., the worldwide leader in royalty-free real-time operating systems (RTOS), today announced the availability of Express Logic's new ThreadX([R]) Microcontroller Edition RTOS, "ThreadX([R])/MCU," for the 16-bit PIC24 microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC([R]) digital signal controllers (DSCs) from Microchip Technology  Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a manufacturer of microcontroller, memory and analog semiconductors, founded in 1989 when Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQin full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :MCHP MCHP Maryland Children's Health Program MCHP Microchip Technologies (stock symbol) MCHP Micro-sized Combined Heat and Power (American Honda Motor Co. & Climate Energy, LLC) MCHP Maine Community Heritage Project ), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors. ThreadX/MCU for 16-bit MCUs and DSCs Until now, ThreadX has been available only for 32-bit processors and DSPs. But through a cooperative effort with Microchip, Express Logic has created a brand-new version of ThreadX, called ThreadX MCU (1) (MicroController Unit) A computer on a single chip. See microcontroller. (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 Edition (ThreadX/MCU), to support one of the leading 16-bit architectures in the embedded industry--Microchip's PIC24 MCU and dsPIC DSC (1) (Digital Signal Controller) A microcontroller and DSP combined on the same chip. It adds the interrupt-driven capabilities normally associated with a microcontroller to a DSP, which typically functions as a continuous process. See microcontroller and DSP. families. ThreadX/MCU is a fully upward-compatible, reduced-size, fine-tuned 16-bit edition of Express Logic's popular 32-bit ThreadX RTOS and is available exclusively for Microchip's 16-bit PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC30/33 DSCs. ThreadX/MCU provides full preemptive pre·emp·tive or pre-emp·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of preemption. 2. Having or granted by the right of preemption. 3. a. scheduling, interrupt management, message passing, thread synchronization, resource locking, event management and timer control; and supports up to 10 threads, queues, timers, mutexes, event flag groups, block pools and byte pools. ThreadX/MCU is fully upward-compatible with Express Logic's full-featured ThreadX RTOS, employed in over 450 million electronic products based on 32-bit processors. Like ThreadX, ThreadX/MCU is royalty-free, making it ideal for high-volume applications in real-time motor control, speech/audio, and wireless networking See wireless network. targeted by Microchip's PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC DSCs. ThreadX/MCU is designed to reside in an extremely small memory footprint Memory footprint refers to the amount of main memory that a program uses or references while running. This includes all sorts of active memory regions like code, static data sections (both initialized and uninitialized), heap, as well as all the stacks, plus memory required to hold , as small as 1.6K bytes, and to deliver low-overhead operations that execute in only 50 - 150 clock cycles, leaving more CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. cycles for the application. "Express Logic's ThreadX is an industry leader among 32-bit architectures, for many of the same applications that we target for our 16-bit PIC24 MCU and dsPIC DSC product lines," noted Derek Carlson, Microchip's vice president of Development Tools. "ThreadX/MCU is tuned for Microchip's 16-bit line, and delivers true RTOS services in a small footprint that nicely fits our customers' needs. We're happy to welcome Express Logic and ThreadX/MCU to the network of Microchip partners and our product ecosystem." Microchip Controllers and Development Tools Microchip's PIC24 MCU and dsPIC DSC family consists of the PIC24F, PIC24H, dsPIC30, and dsPIC33, all 16-bit controllers with a powerful architecture, flexible memory technologies and comprehensive, easy-to-use development tools. Microchip provides complete technical documentation and post design-in support through a global sales and distribution network, providing developers with the confidence that their design-in questions will be met. ThreadX/MCU is designed to work with Microchip's powerful and affordable MPLAB([R]) development tools. The world-class MPLAB Integrated Development Environment See IDE. integrated development environment - interactive development environment is an intuitive and productive focus for Microchip's comprehensive suite of compilers, debuggers and device programmers. The MPLAB tools include: * In-circuit debuggers, ranging from affordable and functional to fast and feature-rich * Comprehensive simulators with an extensive stimulus capability * 'C' compilers, assemblers and linkers, with free student editions * Integrated support for third-party compilers, programmers,version control systems, etc. * Demonstration boards covering many applications and devices * Graphical peripheral initialization in·i·tial·ize tr.v. in·i·tial·ized, in·i·tial·iz·ing, in·i·tial·iz·es Computer Science 1. To set (a starting value of a variable). 2. To prepare (a computer or a printer) for use; boot. 3. tool (MPLAB VDI (1) (Video Device Interface) An Intel standard for speeding up full-motion video performance. See DCI. (2) (Virtual Device Interface) An ANSI standard format for creating device drivers. VDI has been incorporated into CGI. ) The MPLAB IDE provides kernel-awareness for the ThreadX/MCU RTOS, giving developers insight into the status and operation of their application using ThreadX/MCU. To speed application development and reduce time-to-market, ThreadX/MCU is pre-configured to work with MPLAB out-of-the-box, enabling applications using ThreadX/MCU to be built, compiled, linked and downloaded with ease. ThreadX/MCU Networking, File System, 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. Stack and Graphics In addition to introducing ThreadX/MCU for Microchip's 16-bit controllers, Express Logic also has ported its NetX[TM] TCP/IP stack, FileX([R]) embedded file system, USBX[TM] USB host/device stack, and PEGX[TM] graphics development kit for use with ThreadX/MCU on Microchip's PIC24 MCU and dsPIC DSC family. "Microchip has developed an impressive portfolio of 16-bit MCUs and DSCs, so when we decided to extend ThreadX support into that area, Microchip was the ideal partner," commented William E. Lamie, president of Express Logic. "Microchip's PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC DSC products are used in many applications that can benefit from the multithreading capabilities of ThreadX/MCU. Microchip has been an ideal partner in this porting process. We look forward to working with Microchip to serve our joint customers." Shipping and Availability Under license from Express Logic, Microchip plans to sell ThreadX/MCU to its customers through its direct and online sales channels. Free Demo licenses for ThreadX/MCU, and full production ThreadX/MCU licenses, are available from Microchip or through the microchipDIRECT online storefront at www.microchipdirect.com. ThreadX/MCU, NetX/MCU, FileX/MCU and PEGX/MCU are available immediately through microchipDIRECT (www.microchipdirect.com) or Express Logic (www.rtos.com), with full production licenses beginning at $5,990. Demo licenses are available free of charge. About Microchip Technology Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com. 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 MS-DOS in full Microsoft Disk Operating System Operating system for personal computers. MS-DOS was based on DOS, developed in 1980 by Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft Corp. bought the rights to DOS in 1981, and released MS-DOS with IBM's PC that year. 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 info@expresslogic.com. [TABLE OMITTED] |
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