Scenix Announces Enhanced Development Tool Support for SX Series Microcontrollers; New Assembler Ensures Re-Usability Of Virtual Peripheral Modules.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 1999--

Scenix Semiconductor, Inc. today announced an important addition to the suite of tools used to develop systems based on its high-performance SX Series microcontrollers (MCUs).

The company introduced the SASM SX Cross Assembler, a code development tool that ensures that Virtual Peripheral(tm) software modules are completely re-usable within any design environment. Scenix also announced expanded development tools support from third-party vendors, including a new debugger and device programmers.

The SASM assembler, which supplements an existing assembler from Parallax, Inc., (Rocklin, Calif.) was developed by Scenix and is downloadable from its Web site (www.scenix.com). In addition, support has grown from third-party vendors, who have added a new debugger and device programmers to the array of tools available for the SX Series.

Virtual Peripheral modules are software implementations of peripheral functions, such as A/D converters, UARTs, Caller ID, DTMF (dual-tone, multi-frequency) generation/detection and other modem functions. These modules are loaded into the on-chip memory of an SX Series MCU as required to configure the controller for a particular application. The new assembler converts SX symbolic assembly language into object code that is readable by the MS-DOS operating system used on IBM PC compatible systems, which is the standard platform used for SX Series development and debugging. The assembler facilitates the generation of Virtual Peripheral software modules, provides a common code environment, and ensures that the code modules can be easily re-used in any new SX system design.

"The SASM SX Cross Assembler is a major milestone on our software tools roadmap," said Stephan Thaler, vice president of marketing at Scenix. "We are committed to providing a suite of sophisticated development and resource management tools, from both Scenix and leading tools vendors, to make SX Series products and the soft-IP embodied in Virtual Peripheral modules a de-facto standard for communications-centric embedded products. We're extremely pleased with the continued support of the tools vendors, which reflects the growing market acceptance of our technology and business model."

Debugging and Programming

In addition to the SASM assembler from Scenix, the company's third-party partners have recently launched a variety of new tools for use with SX Series products.

Advanced Transdata Corp. (Dallas, Tex.) has introduced a low-cost, full-featured in-system debugger that supports the SX Series in-system programming capability. The SX-ISD In-System Debugger provides a low-cost emulation solution that allows users to run the target application in real time on a PC, debug source codes and program a target SX device when the design is complete. It comes with a fully integrated development environment that allows users to effectively develop, compile, debug and program SX applications from start to finish. Advanced Transdata also offers an 8-socket gang programmer for Scenix MCUs.

BP Microsystems, Inc., (Houston, Tex.) offers both single-socket and multi-socket gang programmers for the SX Series. It also provides programmers for the production environment, which requires automatic handling of multiple devices.

Stag Programmers, Inc., (Hertfordshire, U.K.) has also added multiple-device gang and production programmers for the SX Series to its product line.

Scenix Semiconductor, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. Founded in 1996, the company announced the 50 MIPS SX Series family of microcontrollers (MCUs) in August 1997. In October 1998, the company announced SX Series MCUs that set a new industry standard with 100 MIPS performance, followed in February 1999 by MCUs with expanded memory and I/O capabilities. In December 1998, Cahners Publishing placed the SX Series on its "10 Top Processor List of 1998."

Scenix is the industry leader in using Virtual Peripheral software modules, which reduce system costs and increase flexibility by eliminating the need to "hardwire" peripheral functions into chips or to use external components. The combination of Virtual Peripheral software functions with the industry's highest performance MCUs is an ideal solution for a wide range of embedded applications.

Additional information on Scenix and the SX Series products can be found on the Web, at www.scenix.com.

Note to Editors: (tm) Virtual Peripheral is a trademark of Scenix Semiconductor, Inc.