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Evaluation board from Toshiba speeds development of sensorless BLDC motor control designsToshiba Electronics Europe has expanded its family of motion control development platforms with a new evaluation board that will speed implementation of sensorless drives for three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors. The new board is ideal for testing and prototyping drives for motion control applications requiring motor bridge voltages ranging from around 10V to 42V. Green Hills Software Joins Power.orgGreen Hills Software has announced its membership at the Sponsor level in Power.org, the open organization that develops and promotes Power Architecture technology. Green Hills Software is providing leadership and experience to help develop, enable, and promote Power Architecture technology, optimize interoperability, and accelerate innovation. Green Hills Software's experts are participating in the Power.org technical subcommittees, including debugging, hypervisors, operating systems, embedded platform requirements, virtual platforms, and application binary interfaces. 
Polar Instruments introduces Impedance Coupon GeneratorPolar Instruments announce the launch of an automatic coupon generator which dramatically reduces the time required to generate impedance test coupons compared to manual or scripted systems. Conventional methods of coupon generation require both skill and time, and even scripted systems may not be able to produce complex coplanar or waveguide coupons. These systems are also prone to errors which can result in incorrect line widths on the finished coupon. DeviceSQL on Blackfin improves efficiency and performance while accelerating software development in a wide range of applicationsEncirq and Analog Devices, Inc. today announced the availability of DeviceSQL, an embedded database SDK, optimized for developing applications on the ADSP-BF548 Blackfin processor from Analog Devices. DeviceSQL is an award-winning SDK that is used to build a variety of high-speed data management functions including embedded databases, data loggers, search engines, language tables and more. It makes it easy to build extremely fast, tight, reliable code for processing and managing data in set-top box applications, portable media players, automotive infotainment systems, home entertainment systems and more. DeviceSQL is shipping in millions of consumer electronics devices with proven performance in a wide variety of applications. 
Green Hills Software Extends Support for Texas Instruments’ DaVinci Digital Media ProcessorsGreen Hills Software has announced the immediate availability of its comprehensive software development solution targeting Texas Instruments' DM355 DaVinci digital media processor. Components of the Green Hills development toolkit include: royalty-free real time operating systems, optimizing C/C++ compilers for ARM, MULTI integrated development environment (IDE), DoubleCheck integrated static source code analyzer and high-speed JTAG hardware probes. Tensilica Announces Open Source Linux Emphasis, Broadens Processor Core Ecosystem with New Linux PartnersTimeSys and Embedded AlleyTensilica has announced that Embedded Linux 2.6 and GNU tools based on GCC 4.2, both available at www.linux-xtensa.org, is now backed by two well-respected Linux industry partners. Embedded Alley Solutions, Inc. of San Jose, CA, provides Platform Optimized Linux Solutions, Linux consulting services and training. Timesys, of Pittsburgh, PA, is providing subscriptions to LinuxLink for Tensilica customers to access embedded software, tools, documentation, and support and Timestorm: an Eclipse-based IDE that provides a point-and-click interface for kernel and root filesystem configuration, profiling, testing, and debugging. National Instruments Advances Medical Device Design with Technology and TrainingNational Instruments has announced three initiatives to help support safe and efficient medical device development. Beginning this month, National Instruments is offering a series of free workshops that demonstrate how to develop a medical device using NI technology as well as provide instruction on how to secure validation for the device from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company is also co-hosting a two-day workshop in August to give physicians, scientists and engineers a forum to network and share ideas on addressing some of the challenges and solutions for device research, development and commercialisation. Additionally, National Instruments has started a grant programme that will provide software, support and training to start-up companies developing medical devices. Electronics designers and mechanical designers can collaborate in real timeAltium has introduced technology that, for the first time, lets electronic designers fit their boards into enclosures in real time, in 3D, without guesswork. They can eliminate the numerous costly, trial-and-error, "wait-and-see" ECAD-MCAD iterations that, until now, have delayed bringing a product to market. Teklatech’s floorplanning EDA tool exclusively selected by Think SiliconTeklatech, a technology leader in floorplanning and clock distribution network solutions, has announced that its FloorDirector product has been exclusively chosen by Think Silicon for use in 90 nm and 65 nm designs. Think Silicon, an innovative European design center and supplier of various IP and turnkey solutions, has selected the FloorDirector EDA tool for its unique floorplanning optimization technology which is required for a wide range of SoC applications, including multimedia, DSP, wireless, networking and mobile. FloorDirector's ability to deliver SoC power shaping and provide robustness to on-chip-variation were key factors in Think Silicon's decision. AMOLED Demonstration made easy with Densitron’s Exclusive Evaluation KitDensitron's in-house developed OLED Evaluation Kit has been en-hanced to support Active Matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays, complete with power supply requirements. A powerful and easy to use demonstration tool for driving OLED displays from the USB port of a desk-top or laptop PC, the Kit is hot pluggable and does not require extra power supply to run, enabling quick download of pictures and creation of slide shows for immediate demonstration. 
Optical module reference design from Phyworks provides instant digital solutionPhyworks has introduced a complete hardware and software reference design for 125Mbps – 1.25Gbps SFP optical modules offering a fully digital configuration and monitoring capability. Aiming to help datacomm module makers and network operators significantly reduce costs and time-to-market, this flexible reference design does not require specialised software engineering knowledge. 
NI Introduces Prototyping Platform for Interactive, Hands-On LearningNational Instruments has announced NI ELVIS II, the latest version of the design and prototyping platform that educators worldwide have adopted for hands-on, project-based learning. Based on the powerful LabVIEW graphical system design software, NI ELVIS II gives educators 12 new USB plug-and-play instruments and complete integration with Multisim 10.1 software for SPICE simulation to simplify the teaching of circuit design. In addition, educators can use NI ELVIS II with a suite of third-party boards and curriculum resources to teach control design, telecommunications and microcontroller concepts. 
Development platform speeds design and prototyping of display-based applicationsArrow's European reference board team has created an advanced, FPGA-based development platform that will speed the implementation of display-based applications. The new PABLO reference design provides a powerful yet easy-to-use reference design that enables the rapid design and prototyping of applications requiring integrated graphic and display controller functionality. 
Artisan launches C# Synchronizer for Artisan StudioArtisan Software Tools has launched the C# Synchronizer for Artisan Studio. Artisan's C# Synchronizer facilitates a "best-of-breed" methodology for C# programmers by enabling software architecting to be undertaken in UML using Artisan Studio while allowing them retain the context of C#-aware features by implementing the coding detail using their preferred C# IDE or program editor. CoWare and Agility Team to Accelerate the Simulation of Complex DSP AlgorithmsCoWare, Inc and Agility Design Solutions, Inc have announced a strategic relationship focused on accelerating the simulation and implementation of complex DSP algorithms starting from MATLAB models. CoWare is offering its customers integration support for accelerated C models generated by Agility's RMS and MCS products into the entire range of CoWare's ESL 2.0 solutions. 
Actel Introduces Igloo-Based Portable Control SolutionsFurther expanding its offerings for the portable market based on the industry's lowest power field-programmable gate array (FPGA), Actel has announced two plug-in daughter cards developed to manage human machine interface (HMI) and miniature motor control functionality. The new HMI Daughter Card and the Motor Control Daughter Card are offered as plug-ins to Actel's popular IGLOO Icicle Kit. Combined with the company's previously announced IGLOO-based storage and display-related development boards, design examples and intellectual property (IP) cores, the company believes these new control-related solutions will increase market penetration for Actel's 5 microwatt (µW) IGLOO FPGAs in the rapidly growing portable market. 
National Instruments Introduces Graphical Differencing and User Interface Toolkit for Comparing Models Developed Using The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink® SoftwareNational Instruments has announced the NI Graphical Differencing and User Interface Toolkit, a software solution that helps engineers and scientists identify differences between models built using The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink software. Engineers and scientists can also use the toolkit to easily create user interfaces to interact with their models built using Simulink. The ability to easily compare models and identify differences makes the toolkit ideal for team-based application development in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical. Valid for worldwide use, the toolkit is offered in collaboration with ExpertControl, a technical software company headquartered in Germany. Lighting design kit from Texas Instruments has remote-controlled LED boardTexas Instruments continues to drive advancements in the lighting industry with the introduction of a wireless remote control RGB light emitting diode (LED) design kit. The TPS62260LED plus TI's award-winning eZ430-RF2500 development tool completes a fully supported platform to design new and exciting color lighting innovations for consumer, commercial, professional and architectural applications. TI's untra-thin chip module enables production of high-quality graphics-rich branded contactless cardsTexas Instruments has announced the availability of its ultra-thin module for contactless payment applications which removes another technology barrier for broader proliferation of contactless payment. Now 26 percent thinner than conventional packaged contactless chip offerings, the new ultra-thin module enables card manufacturers to produce an increasing array of colorful and distinctive products with higher yields as a result of causing fewer visual imperfections than thicker chip modules. Artisan appoints Tess-com Group to distribute Artisan Studio in ItalyArtisan Software Tools, the leading independent developer of premium-quality, collaborative modeling tools for complex, mission-critical embedded systems and software, has appointed Tess-com Italia as the Italian distributor for Artisan Studio, its award-winning, all-in-one, standards-based development tool suite. Movie Player Video/Audio Playback Software Achieves High-Performance Video Processing on the SH-Mobile Application Processor for Mobile PhonesRenesas has announced the development of a Flexible Movie Player video/audio playback software package for embedded systems using the SH-Mobile application processor for mobile phones. The software will be available from July 2008 in Japan. Actel Partners With Pigeon Point Systems To Deliver TCA Management SolutionsBuilding upon its existing portfolio for the growing TCA market, Actel has announced it has partnered with Pigeon Point Systems, a market-leading supplier of TCA management components, to deliver system management platforms for higher performance applications. Leveraging Actel's single-chip, mixed-signal Fusion Programmable System Chip (PSC) with an embedded FPGA-optimized 32-bit ARM Cortex-M1 processor and optimized Pigeon Point firmware, the first products will include development kits to speed the design of Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA) and Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) carrier board management controllers, all based on the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) architecture. Lattice Semiconductor and Synplicity Expand PartnershipLattice Semiconductor and Synplicity, Inc., have announced an expansion to the companies' existing OEM agreement. Under the terms of the new agreement, Synplicity will be Lattice Semiconductor's exclusive synthesis partner, and Lattice will broaden its synthesis offering in its ispLEVER design tool suite to include the industry-leading Synplify Pro logic synthesis software for higher-level designs. 
IAR Systems partners with Atmel to deliver tools support for AVR XMEGAIAR Systems has announced the launch of Version 5.10 of IAR Embedded Workbench for AVR, which now supports the new AVR XMEGA family of 8-bit microcontrollers from Atmel. This latest release is the result of a close partnership with Atmel during their development of XMEGA, and consolidates the position of IAR Embedded Workbench as the leading high-end C/C++ compiler for AVR. 
IAR Systems supports Luminary Micro’s expanded range of Stellaris microcontrollers featuring USBIAR Systems has announced that IAR Embedded Workbench® for ARM® now features full support for the new USB-enabled additions to Luminary Micro's award-winning ARM Cortex-M3-based Stellaris® microcontroller family, also announced today. At the same time Luminary Micro has announced two new evaluation kits, both featuring a free code size limited KickStart Edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM. Synplicity Introduces System Designer: System-Level Implementation and IP Integration Tool for FPGA DesignSynplicity®, Inc. today introduced System Designer™, a device-independent intellectual property (IP) configuration and system-level assembly environment that has been added to Synplicity's Synplify Pro® and Synplify® Premier FPGA design implementation tools. The System Designer™ capability allows users to select, configure and assemble internal and third-party IP delivered in the IP-XACT format, integrate that IP and then easily implement it into a variety of FPGA vendor devices, including those from Actel, Altera, Lattice Semiconductor and Xilinx. The new tool flow provides FPGA designers, using IP and system-level blocks, with an extremely productive path to implementing complex systems in FPGAs. Synplicity Launches ReadyIP Program: the Industry’s first Universal, Secure IP Flow for FPGA ImplementationSynplicity®, Inc. today announced the ReadyIP Initiative, a program that takes aim at simplifying the access, evaluation, and use of intellectual property (IP) for FPGA-based system design. The ReadyIP program delivers the industry's first and complete universal, encrypted design methodology for FPGA implementation, allowing users to incorporate and easily integrate IP from several third-party vendors within their designs using the Synplify Pro® and/or Synplify® Premier solutions, Synplicity's industry-standard synthesis environments. 
Jennic Starter Kit de-skills low power wireless connectivity for just $219Jennic announces the immediate availability of a new low-cost Starter Kit which allows developers with little or no wireless experience to develop products. Priced at just $219, the JN5139-EK020 IEEE802.15.4/JenNet Starter Kit, simplifies the evaluation and application development of low power wireless connectivity products using Jennic's robust and reliable JenNet networking stack. Three-phase motor drive application kitArrow has announced the availability of a three-phase motor drive application kit that provides all of the hardware and software needed to rapidly develop energy-efficient variable speed motion control designs based on motors with ratings to 750W. 
IAR Systems announces native hardware debug and C++ compiler support for Microchip Technology devicesIAR Systems has strengthened its support for Microchip Technology's range of 16-bit PIC24 microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC33F digital signal controllers (DSCs) by adding native hardware level debug support, through the inclusion of the Microchip MPLAB REAL ICE In-Circuit Emulator System within its C-SPY debugger, an integral component of IAR Embedded Workbench. Micrium Completes First Ports to Analog Devices’ Blackfin ProcessorsAs part of its commitment to supporting all major microprocessor platforms, Micrium has announced that its uC/OS-IITM real time operating system (RTOS) and uC/TCP-IPTM network stack have been ported to Analog Devices' Blackfin family of microprocessors. The company's uC/ProbeTM monitoring tool is also fully compatible with Blackfin processors. Young robot designers innovate with Altium’s supportAltium Limited has donated licenses of its Altium Designer integrated electronics design software to FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) for use in its annual robotics design competition. FTDI first vendor to release Microsoft certified USB-UART driver for Windows Server 2008Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) has announced the availability of its latest Microsoft certified CDM device driver for all Windows platforms, including Vista SP1 and the newly released Server 2008. Synplicity Announces Immediate Support For Xilinx Virtex-5 FXT FPGAsSynplicity, Inc has today announced that its advanced FPGA synthesis solution Synplify Pro, now supports Virtex-5 FXT field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) from Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX), the world's leading supplier of programmable logic solutions. In addition, Synplicity has created an automated solution for integrating its Synplify Pro FPGA synthesis solution into the Xilinx Embedded Development Kit (EDK) so designers can achieve maximum productivity and quality of results for their embedded system designs. Synplicity’s Synplify DSP 3.6 Software Speeds DSP Algorithm Design for ASICs and FPGAsSynplicity has released its newest version of the company's Synplify DSP ESL synthesis software for ASIC and FPGA design. The Synplify DSP 3.6 software includes new enhancements to its architectural optimizations and DSP synthesis methodology, as well as new Intellectual Property (IP) blocks and capacity improvements that will benefit customers working on complex digital multimedia and wireless IC designs. Multi-carrier, multi-standard development platform for wireless infrastructure base stationsTexas Instruments Incorporated has announced a scalable, programmable development ecosystem enabling base station OEMs to support multiple carriers of established and evolving wireless standards from a single platform. Based on TI's multicore TMS320TCI6487 and TMS320TCI6488 digital signal processors (DSPs) and multi-interface software libraries, the development platform covers all major air interfaces including GSM-EDGE, HSPA, HSPA+, TD-SCDMA , LTE and WiMAX. With a single development platform, OEMs largely "design once-deploy multiple" base stations, significantly reducing design costs, while speeding the deployment of new 3G features and beyond 3G standards. Tensilica's GUI Cuts Chip Energy ConsumptionTensilica has announced that it has added a new graphical user interface (GUI) to its popular Xenergy estimator, a unique energy estimator for both Xtensa configurable processors and Diamond Standard processors. This first of its kind tool allows software developers to evaluate trade-offs, so their software can be optimized for power, and lets hardware designers optimize the design of Xtensa configurable processors for total energy consumption. Express Logic and IAR Systems team up to provide ThreadX RTOS support in IAR Embedded Workbench IDE for Freescale ColdFireExpress Logic and IAR Systems, have announced that IAR Embedded Workbench now supports Express Logic's ThreadX RTOS. Developers using ThreadX now can elect to use IAR Embedded Workbench IDE for their ColdFire software development tools. New version of MagNet will support enhanced core loss calculationsInfolytica Corporation plans to release a new version of MagNet that will be available in the spring of 2008. Topping the list of new features is a total revamp of core loss calculations. 
Mouser Now Stocking Microchip’s PICDEM Touch Sense 1 Demonstration BoardMouser Electronics has announced it is stocking the PICDEM Touch Sense 1 Demo Board from Microchip Technology, a leading supplier of microcontroller and analog semiconductors. Synplicity Announces Acquisition By SynopsysSynplicity, Inc., a leading supplier of solutions for the design and verification of semiconductors, has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing. When completed, the acquisition will expand Synplicity's product portfolio and extend the market reach of its industry leading products. 
Mouser Now Stocking Actel’s Icicle Development KitMouser Electronics is now stocking the new Icicle Kit from Actel, the leading supplier of low-power FPGAs and programmable system chips. Leveraging Actel's 5-microwatt (5µW) IGLOO FPGA, the kit showcases the unprecedented low-power advantages, flexible implementation options, and significant battery savings offered by IGLOO FPGAs for portable applications. 
Green Hills RTOS announced for NEC Electronics V850 32-bit MicrocontrollersGreen Hills Software has announced that its µ-velOSity RTOS is now available for the NEC Electronics V850 family of embedded microcontrollers. With a ROM footprint as small as 2K bytes, RAM footprint as small as 1K bytes, and service call times as low as 30 cycles, µ-velOSity is ideal for the cost-sensitive, high-performance applications for which V850 is intended. 
Converters’ chip scale packaging offers portable systems designers major space savingsBy taking advantage of lower component profiles, reduced stray inductance, capacitance and resistance and enhanced electrical characteristics, converters using chip scale packaging (CSP) from AnalogicTech enable designers of cell phones, Bluetooth headsets and other space-constrained portable systems to reduce footprint, improve AC performance, and drive down manufacturing costs. Electronics Industry Embraces Synplicity’s Confirma Platform for ASIC VerificationSynplicity Inc. has confirmed new product capabilities, widespread customer adoption and increased demand for its Confirma ASIC/ASSP Verification Platform. Since the introduction of the Confirma Platform just six months ago, Synplicity has received over one hundred orders with leading electronics companies worldwide, including the BBC, and has received dozens of positive reports from global design teams who have shaved months off their design times. 
Visual Enhancement Engine enables next generation mobile multimedia experiencesQuickLogic has announced the Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) to enable next generation multimedia products. The proprietary VEE technology provides high quality contrast optimisation for a wide range of mobile consumer and prosumer devices. It specifically addresses the mobile industry's need to provide consumers with a TV-quality viewing experience while extending battery life at the same time. 
Tanner EDA upgrades chip design tool suite with productivity enhancements throughout design flowTanner Tools V13.0 is a significant upgrade to Tanner EDA's Windows-based tool suite for analog and mixed-signal IC and MEMS design. Tanner Tools consists of S-Edit for schematic capture, T-Spice for simulation, L-Edit for layout and HiPer Verify for design verification. The latest upgrade adds Verilog-A model support to T-Spice. L-Edit is boosted with better library support, improvements in schematic driven layout (SDL) and a new SDL automatic router. HiPer Verify gets a hierarchical, foundry-compatible netlist extraction tool – HiPer Extract. In addition, Tanner have added HiPer PX, a 3D RC extraction tool, allowing accurate 3D extraction of interconnect parasitics. Objektum Solutions and Artisan team with BAE Systems to resolve the HOOD-to-UML migration challenge on the Nimrod projectArtisan Software Tools and Objektum Solutions are working with BAE Systems to resolve the HOOD-to-UML migration challenge for its Nimrod project legacy designs. By providing a solution combining Objektum Solutions' HOODbridge utility, the Artisan Studio UML/SysML tool suite and the BAE Systems Ada Profile, the resulting solution significantly reduces the time it takes to migrate legacy designs into Artisan Studio ready for use. 
Focus EDL Signs IP House MorethanIPFocus EDL, the leading electronic components distributor specializing in providing the communications and high-performance datacoms industries with a broad range of products from the United States, Asia and Europe, announces that it signed MorethanIP, the design house recognised for its ability to support FPGA devices from leading vendors including Altera and Xilinx. Teklatech will make Worldwide Debut at DATE Exhibition in MarchStart-up EDA company, Teklatech will debut its new EDA software tool, FloorDirector, at the DATE show March 10-14 ICM in Munich. Using its new floorplanning and clock distribution technology, semiconductor vendors can overcome critical dynamic voltage drops which can result in unpredictable signal integrity and noise effects that can cause silicon failure. STMicroelectronics Delivers Free TCP/IP Stack for STR91x DesignersSTMicroelectronics has made the NicheLite TCP/IP stack available free of charge with its STR91x 32-bit Flash microcontrollers featured for networking applications, lowering cost-of-entry to that of open-source offerings but with the advantage of vendor support facilities. Compared to other third-party stacks, NicheLite is also royalty-free, helping manufacturers predict and manage their production costs. Super fast JTAG / BDM debugger and Flash ProgrammerThe BDI3000 is the latest in Abatron's popular range of BDM/JTAGJTAG interface for use with the GDB debugging package or as a flash programmer. They offers substantial performance enhancements compared with earlier models with support for GDB debugging and flash programming for ColdFire, PowerPC, ARM, Xscale and MIPS processors. 
Green Hills Software Adds Embedded RTOS Support for its Padded Cell Secure HypervisorGreen Hills Software has announced it has added secure virtualization support for Wind River's VxWorks embedded real-time operating system with its Padded Cell Secure Hypervisor. This technology breakthrough provides safe, reliable, independent execution and containment of the VxWorks guest operating system and unmodified VxWorks applications while allowing parallel execution of mission critical applications on the Green Hills INTEGRITY RTOS. 
Single Source Access to Advanced Layer 3 Routing SolutionsGreen Hills Software has announced the availability of a comprehensive collection of advanced layer 3 IPv4 and IPv6 routing software products intended for use with its Platform for Secure Networking. Esterel Technologies Expands Certification Coverage with SCADEEsterel Technologies, the leading world-wide provider of model-based solutions for the development of mission and safety-critical systems has expanded its support for certification and qualification standards in the military, aerospace, railway, industrial, nuclear, and automotive domains. Eclipse-Based Applications Programming Interface for SCADE Suite Mission and Safety-Critical Model-Based Development EnvironmentEsterel Technologies, the provider of model-based solutions for the development of mission and safety-critical systems has expanded its open and flexible SCADE Suite development environment to include integration with the Eclipse™ platform and Wind River's Workbench software development platform. SCADE Suite now supports the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) by providing a Java-based Applications Programming Interface (API) that enables access and connectivity to the SCADE Suite Models from other Eclipse-based tools. This API is provided in addition to the existing TCL API already in place with SCADE Suite. This technology integration gives SCADE Suite users the freedom to work with other tools in the development chain that support the Eclipse Framework, including Integrated Development Environments such as Wind River Workbench. Esterel Technologies and Artisan Software Tools Integrate Model-Based Development Environments to Offer Complete System to Deployment Solution for Safety-Critical Embedded SystemsEsterel Technologies has teamed with Artisan Software Tools to integrate the Esterel SCADE Suite product line with Artisan Software Tools' Artisan Studio. This integration brings best-in-class products to the model-based design community developing safety-critical applications. Artisan Studio, supporting the latest version of the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and UML standard, gives systems and software engineers unprecedented ability to specify, document, and validate individual embedded systems. By integrating Artisan Studio with SCADE Suite, now systems and software engineers can collaborate more effectively in the development of safety-critical systems. In fact, now these often disparate domains can easily share design information in and across the tool-chain. Esterel Technologies and National Instruments Provide Integrated Model-Based Development and Rapid Prototyping Solution for Mission and Safety-Critical ApplicationsEsterel Technologies has integrated its technology with the leading worldwide supplier of measurement and rapid prototyping solutions for embedded applications, National Instruments. This relationship and the resulting product integration give mission and safety-critical application developers the ability to simulate and measure the intended functionality and behaviour of their systems very early in the development process when design flaws are cheaper to fix. The companies have formed a partnership to offer an integrated model-based development environment that combines National Instrument's LabVIEW plant modeling solution with LabVIEW Real-Time rapid prototyping hardware and the Esterel SCADE Suite design and development environment. This solution provides a complete workflow to developers, enabling realistic system simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and embedded rapid prototyping with complete production-quality code generation for mission and safety-critical applications 
Evaluation board provides complete development platform for Vinculum embedded USB host designsFuture Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) has announced its V-EVAL hardware development platform for Vinculum VNC1L-based embedded USB host designs. Supplied as a complete kit, it includes the V-EVAL development board, power supply, USB A/B cable and a USB gender change for use with USB slave applications. A downloadable human interface class (HID) example project for a PIC, in C language is also available. 
IAR Systems announces major upgrade to state machine design toolIAR Systems has announced the launch of IAR visualSTATE version 6.1, which incorporates several major enhancements, including: generation of fully human-readable code; build integration with IAR Embedded Workbench; verification improvements; and logging to test sequence files. 
ARM processor Starter Kit provides reference platform and software support for simplified development of industrial and consumer applicationsToshiba Electronics Europe has launched a Starter Kit that will allow engineers to rapidly and cost effectively develop and prototype applications featuring the company's new TMPA910CRAXBG 32-bit ARM926EJ-S-based microprocessor. Believed to be the lowest cost tool in its category, Toshiba's BMSKTOPASA910 'Plug & Play' Starter Kit brings together all of the hardware and software needed to develop and test applications based on the TMPA910CRAXBG. 
SH7722 and Linux based reference design for multimedia products, Office Automation equipment and industrial systemsRenesas Technology Europe has announced the immediate availability of the MIGO-R, "Multimedia Integration GO", reference design based on the Linux Operating System and the SH7722 low power multimedia processor with dedicated video processing engine supporting H.264 video encode and decode. 
Artisan previews Artisan Studio v7.0Artisan Software Tools is previewing the forthcoming Artisan Studio Version 7.0, its all-in-one standards-based development tool suite, at Embedded World 2008 (Hall 10, Stand 408). 
LDRA launches TBreq 2.0LDRA has launched TBreq 2.0, the latest version of its collaborative, requirements-based embedded software development and verification solution. TBreq 2.0 incorporates important new and enhanced features for the automation of key verification activities along with a new, more intuitive GUI that significantly improves usability. 
National Instruments Introduces the LabVIEW 8.5 Control Design and Simulation ModuleNational Instruments has announced the release of the NI LabVIEW 8.5 Control Design and Simulation Module, an extension of the LabVIEW graphical system design platform that helps engineers and scientists analyse open-loop model behavior, design closed-loop controllers, simulate systems and create real-time implementations. The latest version of the module introduces new design features such as analytical proportional integral derivative (PID) for improving system closed-loop stability and model predictive control to multivariable systems. 
IAR Systems and SEGGER announce flash breakpoints functionality in IAR Embedded Workbench for ARMIAR Systems and SEGGER Microcontroller, leading manufacturers of software packages for embedded systems, today announced the availability of 'Flash Breakpoints' integrated into IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM. XMOS chooses CoSy for Software Defined SiliconXMOS Semiconductor is using the CoSy compiler development system from ACE Associated Compiler Experts in the development of the tool suite for its XCore processor. An event driven, multi-threaded processor, XCore is programmed using C and the XMOS originated XC language, which adds support for parallel processing, event driven control and time-driven programming models. 
DSCs provide fixed point affordability and floating point ease-of-use to enable energy-efficient industrial applicationsEmbedded control engineers prefer the simplified programming provided by floating-point architectures, but are often deterred by the higher cost. Addressing this paradox, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) today announced what is said to be the first fixed-point digital signal controllers (DSCs) that are entirely compatible in hardware and software with high-performance floating-point DSCs. TI's new TMS320F282x series of DSCs combine the affordability of a fixed-point architecture with the faster software development inherent to floating-point devices. Floating-point algorithms that previously required significant recoding for fixed-point operation can now be recompiled in minutes to run on the F282x devices. The DSCs bring savings in time-to-market and manufacturing costs, enabling developers to design energy-efficient, less expense industrial applications such as servo controllers, automotive radar, solar inverters and wind turbines. 
Green Hills to Support AMCC PowerPC 405EX and 405EXrGreen Hills Software has announced the availability of its software development solution targeting Applied Micro Circuit Corporation's (AMCC) PowerPC 405EX and 405EXr embedded processors. Components of the Green Hills Software development toolkit include: optimizing C/C++ compilers for Power Architecture, MULTI integrated development environment (IDE), virtual prototyping platform, DoubleCheck static analyzer, and high-speed hardware debug probes. 
Comsys expands ComMAX reference design platform to include ExpressCard/34 form factorComsys Communication and Signal Processing has announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that it has extended its converged cellular/WiMAX reference design platforms offering to include the ExpressCard/34 PC card format. The platform offers ODMs a rapid route to implementing converged cellular/mobile WiMAX functionality for the new generation of laptop PC equipped with an ExpressCard slot. 
Altium to preview its extended range of deployment NanoBoards at DesignCon 2008Altium has previewed its extended range of deployment NanoBoards at DesignCon 2008 and will showcase the new solution in Europe at Embedded World 2008. Design environment puts device intelligence at the center of the design processAltium Limited has launched the Altium Innovation Station which combines the Altium Designer unified electronics design software with the newly-extended Altium NanoBoard range of reconfigurable hardware platforms. 
First public demonstration of Lime Microsystems' broadband transceiver reference design at MWCThe first public demonstration of the world's first MicroTCA broadband transceiver reference design will be given at Mobile World Congress by the design's originator, Lime Microsystems. Mobile World Congress (formerly 3GSM) will be held in Barcelona, February 11 – 14, 2008. Demonstrations will be given on the Freescale Semiconductor stand (stand 8B91 in hall 8) throughout the show. 
Sensorless Field-Oriented Motor-Control Solution for ARM Cortex Based DevicesSTMicroelectronics has announced a complete three-phase motor-control development kit based on the STM32 Flash microcontroller – launched mid-2007 – which provides all the necessary hardware and firmware to enable users to evaluate this 32-bit solution, and to begin development of their own sensorless motor-control application. The STM32 uses the powerful ARM Cortex-M3 core, developed specifically to address the requirements of cost-sensitive home-appliance and industrial applications that need high MCU performance with exceptional energy efficiency. TI's development platform HSPA+ for wireless infrastructure applicationsEnabling the trend toward 'flat architectures' for the cellular network, Texas Instruments has announced the availability of a development platform for the recently ratified HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access Plus) standard. Based on the wireless infrastructure-optimized, multicore TMS320TCI6488 digital signal processor, the platform offers updated WCDMA Receive Accelerator (RAC) software drivers and a reference platform. Now, base station manufacturers can design a single product spanning HSPA, HSPA+ and LTE (Long Term Evolution), greatly reducing development costs. picoChip and mimoOn partner on delivery of industry’s first LTE basestation reference designpicoChip has announced that it is collaborating with mimoOn to deliver the industry's first complete LTE (Long Term Evolution) basestation reference design. The new PC86xx family of LTE reference designs cover the full range of eNode Bs from femtocells to multi-sector macrocells and is supported on the same common hardware platforms as picoChip's WiMAX products. The system and its MIMO capabilities will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona, 11-14 February on the picoChip stand 1D56. 
Software Development Solution for AMCC Power Architecture 405EZGreen Hills Software has announced the immediate availability of its comprehensive software development solution targeting Applied Micro Circuit Corporation's Power Architecture 405EZ embedded processor. Components of the Green Hills Software development toolkit include: royalty-free RTOSes, optimizing C/C++ compilers for Power Architecture, MULTI integrated development environment (IDE), virtual prototyping platform, DoubleCheck integrated static analyzer, and high-speed hardware debug probes. 
BDM/JTAG debugger offers higher speed and performance enhancementsThe Abatron BDI3000, now available in the UK from Computer Solutions, is the latest generation of Abatron's popular range of BDM/JTAG debuggers, and offers higher speed and performance enhancements compared with earlier models. Features of the BDI3000 include support for GDB debugging and flash programming for ColdFire, PowerPC, ARM, Xscale and MIPS processors. It will also support low-voltage processors down to 1.2 V. Esterel Technologies and AbsInt form Technology PartnershipEsterel Technologies, the provider of model-based solutions for the development of mission and safety-critical systems and AbsInt, the provider of timing and stack usage analysis solutions announced today their partnership to offer a uniquely integrated environment for developing mission and safety-critical embedded software applications, featuring a seamless workflow between Esterel SCADE and AbsInt's aiT and StackAnalyzer products. Data Converter Evaluation and Development Toolkit Helps Designers Speed Time to MarketAnalog Devices has introduced an advanced Converter Evaluation and Development (CED) toolkit that is said to be the industry's first to combine leading data converter evaluation technology with a robust end-product development environment. Thanks to a flexible design that provides four interface ports and up to eight separate power supplies, the CED toolkit platform is capable of shaving six to eight weeks off the converter selection and design-in process. 
Arrow announces advanced motor control development platformArrow has announced an advanced, FPGA-based development platform that will dramatically speed the design, prototyping and testing of motor control applications. Created by Arrow's European reference board team in conjunction with key suppliers and partners, the MotionFire platform provides all of the hardware, software and documentation needed to rapidly and cost-effectively implement motion control systems. 
Alenia Aermacchi chooses Artisan Studio for new OMG SysML/UML software development methodologyArtisan Software Tools has announced that Artisan Studio, the all-in-one UML, OMG SysML and Architectural Framework tool suite used by teams of engineers for the analysis, design and development of complex, mission critical systems, has been chosen by Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, as the preferred tool for its new OMG SysML/UML-based software requirements, design, development and analysis process in the flight control systems area. 
Synplicity’s Synplify Premier Platform Delivers Additional Time-to-Market Benefits and Expanded Device Support for FPGA DesignersSynplicity, Inc has announced that its Synplify Premier software has been enhanced to provide more time-to-market benefits to designers using high-density FPGAs. In release 9.0, the company's award winning graph-based physical synthesis technology has been optimized for Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs to deliver exceptional timing closure, analysis and debug for these advanced devices. This latest release extends the graph-based physical synthesis technology which has been implemented for Xilinx Spartan-3, Virtex-II Pro and Virtex-4 FPGAs for more than two years. Synplicity also announced it has extended these benefits to FPGA designers targeting Altera Stratix-III, Stratix-II and Stratix-II GX FPGAs, through the company's Synplify Premier Beta Program. 
LDRA tool suite to support the new MISRA-C++:2008 standardLDRA has further enhanced the capabilities of the LDRA tool suite to comply with the soon to be released MISRA-C++:2008 standard from the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA). The support for MISRA-C++:2008 complements the LDRA tool suite's existing enforcement support for the MISRA-C:1998 and MISRA-C:2004, HIS (Herstellerinitiative Software) and GJB (Chinese Military Standard) standards for the C programming language. 
Compact COM Express baseboard for validation and small volume projectsKontron has introduced a compact and COM Express compliant ETXexpress miniBaseboard with a footprint of merely 170 mm x 145mm. For applications designed to run on COM Express compliant designs, the Kontron ETXexpress miniBaseboard serves as a universal platform for rapid software validation. 
IAR Systems partners with System Semiconductor on motion controller developer’s kitIAR Systems has announced that IAR Embedded Workbench has been selected by System Semiconductor for inclusion in its newly announced M3000 Developer's Kit for chip level motion control. The M3000 Developer's Kit contains all the tools needed to begin developing applications using the System Semiconductor M3000 Motion Controller, which is a highly integrated, mixed signal system-on-a-chip. The device combines all the major building blocks necessary to control and position multi-phase stepper motors, while also working as a high-speed general-purpose microcontroller incorporating extensive communication, analogue and system functions. 
Trident introduces ARTiGO solution for the Pico-ITXTrident announce the introduction of the ARTiGO from VIA, an ideal evaluation and development environment supporting the popular Pico-ITX. The new ARTiGO Pico-ITX builder kit from Trident will enable embedded system designers to quickly configure a fully functioning PC based on the Pico-ITX motherboard for software development, debugging and pre-production testing. Once the evaluation hardware is assembled, the operating system can be installed, providing a fully functioning platform. Tensilica Adds Support for High-Speed, Hardware-Based Processor Simulations Using Avnet's Xilinx Virtex-4 LX200 Development KitTensilica has announced it has added support for Avnet's Xilinx Virtex-4 LX200 Development Kit for high-speed hardware-based simulations of its Xtensa configurable and Diamond Standard processor families. Now software developers can choose between the cost-effective Avnet LX60 board and the high-capacity Avnet LX200 board to speed their software design, debug and program optimization processes. 
Renesas teams up with Thesycon to provide USB support on H8SX/1664 microcontrollerRenesas Technology Europe and its alliance partner Thesycon have announced the immediate availability of a complete USB stack support for the H8SX/1664-based, RSK1664 Renesas Starter Kit (RSK). The H8SX/1664 features a USB function and a 50 DMIPS H8SX CISC CPU core. From the PC side, Thesycon provides a generic USB device driver for Windows, called USBIO. This allows Windows application developers to control any kind of USB device. No DDK development is required. 
EZURiO’s Telematics Devices Built with Green Hills' OSGreen Hills Software has announced that EZURiO is using its INTEGRITY family of operating systems, including the velOSity real-time operating system, in EZURiO's Wireless Intelligent Serial Module (WISM) for medical and point-of-sale terminals and in its Wireless Intelligent Telematics System (WiTS). 
LDRA to launch TBreq Version 2.0 at Embedded World 2008LDRA, the provider of automated software development, source code analysis and testing tools for a wide variety of market sectors, will launch TBreq version 2.0 at Embedded World 2008 (Hall 10, Stand 320). TBreq automates the manual, time consuming process of requirements traceability and verification, while also facilitating defect tracking and resolution, activities that represent 50% to 70% of project costs and are critical to successful software development. Support announced for Renesas Technology’s SH726x SuperH RISC Microcontrollers from Green HillsGreen Hills Software has announced that its product suite is now available for the Renesas SH726x series of SuperH microcontrollers. Included in Green Hills Software's product family are the MULTI integrated development environment, TimeMachine tool suite, Green Hills compilers, DoubleCheck static analysis tools, velOSity royalty-free real-time operating system, and Green Hills Probes. 
Artisan to preview Artisan Studio version 7.0 at Embedded World 2008Artisan Software Tools will preview the upcoming Version 7.0 of Artisan Studio, its all-in-one standards-based development tool suite, at Embedded World 2008 (Hall 10, Stand 408). Artisan Studio version 7.0 will have a new and improved user interface, its new C# code generation capability and enhanced team working extensions along with a Mathworks® Simulink integration. NI's LabVIEW Tools Network Offers Centralised Location for More Than 400 Specialised LabVIEW Tools and Add-OnsNational Instruments has announced that the LabVIEW Tools Network, an online portal that delivers the industry's largest source of add-ons and connectivity products for NI LabVIEW, has expanded by more than 100 new tools developed by NI and third-party vendors in 2007. With the latest additions to the network, engineers and scientists can now access more than 400 products for use with LabVIEW such as a toolkit that displays user interfaces in any language as well as a tool that automates model generation, control design and controller parameter tuning. Tensilica Offers Integrated Real-Time Trace Support to Xtensa Configurable and Diamond Standard Processor CoresTensilica has announced that it has added an optional full-speed, non-intrusive instruction trace capability to all of its Diamond Standard and Xtensa configurable processor cores. Tensilica's TRAX-PC processor trace capture macrocell is Nexus 5001 compatible and ideal for debugging complex, challenging real-time applications such as engine and motor control. Software control and use of the on-chip TRAX hardware is fully integrated into Tensilica's Xplorer(TM) integrated design environment (IDE) so software engineers can easily develop and debug programs while using the TRAX-PC trace macrocell. Tanner licenses Tiburon compiler to add Verilog-A support to T-Spice Pro simulatorTanner EDA is to add Tiburon Design Automation's Verilog-A module to its T-Spice simulation tool for analogue design, creating a new package that will be called HiPer Simulation. The Verilog-A module, which is fully compatible with the Verilog-AMS Language Reference Manual Version 2.2, enables designers to develop analogue models for components or complete circuits blocks over 10 times faster than creating C-based models. Electromagnetic field simulation software from InfolyticaInfolytica Corporation has announced a new release of MagNet 2D and MagNet 3D, the company's flagship low-frequency electromagnetic field simulation software. Several features have been updated in this new release, improving both the accuracy of the simulation results and efficiency of the user. Altium to demonstrate Altium Designer onlineAltium Limited, the developer of unified electronic product development solutions, is holding a series of live web conferences that introduce and demonstrate Altium Designer's powerful new features and how its unified platform can be used to exploit today's low-cost, high-performance programmable devices. 
NI LabWindows/CVI 8.5 Provides Flexible Multicore Programming for ANSI C DevelopmentNational Instruments has announced LabWindows/CVI 8.5, the latest version of the ANSI C integrated development environment for test and embedded applications. LabWindows/CVI now features symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) support in real time, giving programmers greater control over applications running on multicore processors. With LabWindows/CVI 8.5, programmers can achieve increased performance on multicore systems with full control over thread management, built-in multithreaded libraries and drivers, thread-safe analysis functions and advanced debugging tools. 
Development Kit for AVR UC3-based projectsThe latest IAR KickStart Kit provides professional users of the Atmel AVR32 UC Core with everything they need to begin a development project. The kit comprises an EVK1100 development board from Atmel, a 32kB code-limited edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for AVR32, and an optional JTAGICE MKII debug probe from Atmel. Telelogic Aligns enterprise Architecture and IT Application Development ModelingTelelogic has announced a series of technology enhancements to help organizations continue to improve their business planning and implementation projects. These integrated solutions enable worldwide team collaboration, strengthen enterprise planning capabilities, and empower organizations to understand and formulate their business strategies and develop IT solutions that satisfy their business goals. 
Silicon Labs Expands 8-Bit MCU ToolStick Platform To Include Stand-Alone Programming CapabilitySilicon Laboratories has announced the enhancement of its ToolStick platform, a fully contained evaluation system in a USB stick, enabling customers to evaluate and debug its C8051F mixed-signal 8-bit MCU families and also program code into blank devices. Silicon Labs' new programming adapter provides a unique, risk-free environment to evaluate, program and implement the MCU in their systems. Synplicity Joins Xilinx ESL Design EcosystemSynplicity has joined the Xilinx ESL Initiative. The addition of the Synplify DSP software to the Xilinx ESL design ecosystem underscores the commitment of Xilinx, the world's leading supplier of programmable solutions, toward driving technological innovations and solutions that promote high-level, electronic system level (ESL) design. ESL design is one of the fastest growing segments of the EDA market with an expected 50 percent compounded annual growth rate during the next five years according to market researcher Gary Smith of Gary Smith EDA. 
H8S solution enables high-quality LCD displays for a wide range of cost-sensitive marketsRenesas Technology Europe has introduced what it says is the first 16-bit H8 microcontroller-based evaluation platform that demonstrates an LCD direct drive capability for supporting QVGA size TFT and STN LCD panels. Because it can directly operate LCD panels, this advanced board eliminates the need for a separate LCD controller, decreasing overall system cost and shortening time to market. CoWare and Tensilica Integrate Diamond Standard 106Micro with CoWare ESL 2.0 TechnologyCoWare, Inc., and Tensilica, Inc., today announced the integration of Tensilica's Diamond Standard 106Micro, the smallest licensable 32-bit processor core, with CoWare Platform Architect. The integration provides designers with the first and most productive ESL 2.0 solution for platform architecture design, platform verification, and software development using Tensilica's processor core with the smallest area, lowest power, and highest performance on the market. Actel's IDE maximises power efficiency with new power-driven layout and advanced power analysisActel's Libero Integrated Design Environment (IDE) has significant new features, such as power-driven layout, that enable designers to further optimize designs to reduce dynamic power consumption by as much as 30 percent for a typical design. With the advanced power analysis capabilities built into Libero's SmartPower tool, the enhanced analysis environment is the first to give users a comprehensive understanding of power usage in all functional modes of the design. In addition, an innovative battery life estimation feature gives portable designers an accurate calculation of battery life based on their FPGA design power profile — a first for field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design tools. picoChip delivers WiMAX Wave 2 and IO-MIMO femtocell reference designpicoChip has announced the PC6532 Wave 2 femtocell, the next version of its industry-standard WiMAX basestation reference design. Femtocell access points are optimized for deployment inside buildings to improve coverage and data rates. The new PC6532 WiMAX femtocell is the industry's only single-chip (PHY + MAC) reference design to support WiMAX Wave 2 and full IO-MIMO in both downlink and uplink. NI and Collaborators Deliver New IP to Simplify FPGA DevelopmentNational Instruments has announced a new suite of software and hardware intellectual property (IP) to make using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) in measurement, control and signal processing applications easier. Collaborating with its worldwide network of customers, integrators and National Instruments Alliance Partners, NI is now making available the FPGA IPNet to provide an open forum for sharing LabVIEW FPGA IP and new hardware I/O modules for analogue and digital I/O, communication buses/protocols and motion control. The newly available resources make it easier for engineers and scientists without hardware design experience to integrate FPGA technology into their test and control applications. 
Safety-Certified Operating System Offered for Freescale’s Industrial PowerQUICC PlatformGreen Hills Software, Inc has announced that its TÜV-certified INTEGRITY RTOS is available for Freescale's MPC8360-based Industrial PowerQUICC platform (MPC8360E-RDK). The unique protection architecture of INTEGRITY, coupled with the PowerQUICC II Pro processor's memory management unit (MMU) and advanced communications support, helps to shorten the time and effort required for device safety-certification. The technology solution helps deliver safe, reliable, independent execution and containment of the networking and communications needs of end devices in harsh environments such as industrial manufacturing, power systems, health care facilities and transportation systems. 
National Instruments and QNX Software Systems Deliver Measurement-Quality Analogue I/O to OEMsNational Instruments and QNX Software Systems have announced an OEM evaluation bundle of software and hardware that reduces the barrier to entry for engineers and scientists using graphical system design to create embedded devices that require measurement-quality analogue I/O. The new bundle features a low-cost USB data acquisition device from NI, a single-board computer and drivers as well as evaluation versions of the QNX Momentics development suite and the NI LabVIEW Microprocessor SDK (Software Development Kit). Using the bundle, engineers and scientists can quickly incorporate the market's leading data acquisition hardware into their embedded designs. ESL 2.0 Technology Release for the Design of Processor- and Software-Intensive Electronic PlatformsCoWare Inc., the supplier of platform-driven electronic system-level (ESL) design software and services, has announced the first product release supporting companies in their transition from the proof-of-concept ESL era to ESL 2.0. ESL 2.0 refers to a second generation of ESL solutions, which aim to facilitate the design and development of processor-centric, software-intensive products with complex interconnect and memory architectures, in a production environment. 
NI LabVIEW 8.5 Student Edition Extends Multicore Processing and Hybrid Programming to AcademiaNational Instruments has announced the availability of the LabVIEW 8.5 Student Edition, the latest version of the graphical system design software that gives students a flexible, hands-on environment to design, prototype and deploy engineering and science concepts into real-world applications. The student edition offers all the features of the popular LabVIEW graphical development platform including multicore processing and hybrid programming, providing students with software that facilitates project-based learning, leverages the latest industry performance standards and gives more programming options for creating applications and engineering algorithms. 
IDTV reference platform from Toshiba will streamline development of digital LCD-TVsToshiba Electronics Europe has announced a reference design platform optimised for integrated Digital Television (IDTV) designs, combining the hardware functions and interfaces required for an LCD-TV with Aurora middleware by Cabot Communications enabling a feature-rich digital media solution. The new reference design combines an ALPS tuner and front-end with single-stream standard definition decoding as well as the sound-interface, AV interfaces to matrix switch, colour-decoder and scaler functions required to support the functions of an LCD-TV system. These functions combine with the advanced capabilities of Toshiba's proven "Donau-LC" System on Chip (SoC) for consumer digital media applications. RTOS for Microchip Technology’s PIC32 32-bit Microcontrollers from Express LogicExpress Logic has announced the availability of its ThreadX RTOS for the new PIC32 microcontroller family from Microchip Technology Inc, a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors. In August, Express Logic announced its ThreadX/MCU Edition for Microchip's 16-bit PIC24 and dsPIC33 controllers. With this addition, ThreadX users can easily migrate between Microchip's 16- and 32-bit families using the same RTOS and the same MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE) toolchain from Microchip. Eclipse Hibachi Project Unites Ada Suppliers in Common EnvironmentThe Eclipse Foundation today announced the creation of a new open-source project called Hibachi. The Hibachi project provides an industrial-strength, vendor-neutral Ada integrated development environment (IDE) that also serves as a platform for other contributors to provide value-added functionality for Ada developers. Hibachi is a sub-project of the Eclipse Tools Project, and it parallels and complements CDT, the C/C++ Development Tooling project, providing a multi-language native embedded software development environment. The name Hibachi is an anagram honoring the late Jean Ichbiah, lead designer of the Ada language. Synplicity and Lattice Expand Partnership to Include DSP SynthesisSynplicity and Lattice Semiconductor have expanded their relationship to include delivery of a highly optimized, non-proprietary ESL synthesis flow for DSP design. Synplicity's Synplify DSP software now supports the LatticeECP2 and LatticeXP2 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices, creating a powerful solution for DSP algorithm implementation in aerospace, wireless, telecom and digital multimedia applications. 
ESL 2.0 Technology Release for the Design of Processor- and Software-Intensive Electronic PlatformsCoWare has announced the first product release supporting companies in their transition from the proof-of-concept ESL era to ESL 2.0. It refers to a second generation of ESL solutions, which aim to facilitate the design and development of processor-centric, software-intensive products with complex interconnect and memory architectures, in a production environment. 
Plexus-designed cancer diagnostic prototypes get the go-aheadPlexus, the specialist electronic design and manufacturing services company, has entered a new phase of its relationship with France-based medical start-up SuperSonic Imagine, to deliver an ultrasound system with breakthrough technology. Having been involved throughout design and prototyping, Plexus will now help SuperSonic Imagine prepare the system for production and market approval. 
Students Use NI LabVIEW to Develop a Fully Autonomous Humanoid RobotEngineering students from the Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) at Virginia Tech have developed a bipedal humanoid robot using the National Instruments LabVIEW graphical system design platform. The Dynamic Anthropomorphic Robot with Intelligence (DARwIn) was originally developed to study human locomotion for the research and development of prosthetic limbs. DARwIn achieves full range of motion and accurately imitates human movement so effectively that it was quickly modified to play soccer for entry into RoboCup, an international robotic soccer competition created to promote research in robotics, artificial intelligence and related fields. As a result, it has been accepted as the first-ever U.S. entry into RoboCup in the humanoid division. Express Logic and GlobalEdge to Provide Application Software and Middleware to Developers Using ThreadXExpress Logic has teamed up with GlobalEdge Software Ltd., a leading embedded software solutions and services company based in Bangalore, India, to provide ThreadX customers with embedded software solutions and IP-based services. GlobalEdge services combine ready solutions and engineering services to offer complete product realization. AMI Semiconductor behaviour model saves time and cost for IVN test and debugAMI Semiconductor (AMIS) has introduced a new analog interface behavioural model in VHDL-AMS for the testing of in-vehicle networks (IVNs). Vehicle electronic content is continuing to increase, thus causing IVNs to grow. As a result, new platforms may have over 50 nodes with multiple variants depending upon vehicle options. These factors are making the task of testing the network across its full operating temperature (typically -40şC to +105şC) and supply voltage ranges both expensive and time consuming. 
NASA selects Altium Designer as electronic design standardAltium Limited, the developer of unified electronic product development solutions, has announced that NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) has chosen Altium Designer as its standard electronics design software. The Center's Engineering Directorate will use Altium Designer as its electronics design standard on both manned and unmanned mission support. These include the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs, as well as the Constellation program to send astronauts back to the Moon. QuickLogic adds a high-speed SPI Host Controller option into its CSSP libraryQuickLogic has announces the addition of a SPI (serial peripheral interconnect) Host Controller to its customer specific standard product (CSSP) functional library. The SPI interface gives mobile device designers a low pin-count alternative to SDIO or mini-PCI for implementing high speed connections to wireless modules and other popular peripheral functions. Firmware simplifies design for feature-rich desktop phones and home automation systems.Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. has expanded its hands-free voice processing portfolio with new firmware that simplifies design, reduces cost and speeds time-to-market for feature-rich desktop phones and home automation systems. 
Chipset for MR16-compatible LED lampsZetex Semiconductors has developed a dedicated chipset and reference design for MR16-compatible LED lamps. Reducing the component count of existing solutions by up to 50%, the chipset significantly decreases the size and weight of the PCB in the neck of the lamp and the overall cost of lamp manufacture. 
Power supply simulation for Altium Designer usersAltium Limited has announced support in Altium Designer for the SIMetrix/SIMPLIS power simulation system, a joint development between Transim Technology and Catena Software Ltd. 
Software passes Microsoft platform test for ISV/software solutionsARTiSAN Software Tools has announced that ARTiSAN Studio 6.2 has passed the Microsoft platform test for ISV/software solutions for Windows Server, Windows Client and Microsoft Office. The testing was conducted independently by VeriTest, a testing service of Lionbridge Technologies. As a consequence of the successful testing, ARTiSAN Software Tools' Microsoft Certified Partner status is now compliant with the latest version of ARTiSAN Studio. 
QuickLogic expands into mobile accessory market with SDIO client system blockQuickLogic today releases a proven system block for an SDIO client, expanding its applications potential in the mobile electronics market. Part of QuickLogic's functional library for its Customer Specific Standard Product (CSSP) platforms, the new SDIO function enables a range of unique accessories for mobile devices utilising the popular SD memory card and SDIO peripheral interface. UML and SysML-Based Model Driven Development Environment for Automotive Systems Engineering and Software DevelopmentTelelogic has announced Rhapsody For Automotive , the first UML and SysML-based solution of its kind specifically designed and customized to address the needs of automotive systems engineers and software developers of automotive electronics. This flexible solution easily adapts to the fast changes and diverse needs of engineers designing Telematics, Infotainment, Powertrain, Chasis, Comfort and Body Electronic Control Units (ECUs). Altium opens up unified design to DxDesigner usersAltium Limited has updated the design translation capabilities of its Altium Designer system to support the import of Mentor Graphics' DxDesigner files. The enhanced migration tools make it easier for companies and designers currently using a DxDesigner-based point tool solution to upgrade to Altium Designer and gain the benefits of its unified design environment. Unified electronics design brings board-level design, embedded systems design and programmable devices such as FPGAs into a single design environment. 
Starter Kit speeds development of DSCsTexas Instruments seems to have made it easy for engineers to evaluate and develop software on its recently introduced floating-point TMS320F2833x digital signal controllers (DSCs) by introducing the F28335 eZdsp starter kit. Now sampling, the F28335 controller is the industry's first floating-point DSC, supplying developers of industrial systems with the inherent floating-point advantages of performance and simplified software development over fixed-point devices. 
Low cost tester for flexible Boundary Scan applicationsGÖPEL electronic has introduced the ScanBooster Designer Studio, a new family of low cost test systems. Based on a powerful JTAG/Boundary Scan Controller with Plug and Play USB2.0 interface, combined with a special edition of the integrated development environment CASCON GALAXY, this new offering is especially suited for the rapid verification of prototypes. 
Floating Point FFT IP-Core Lands on Scalable Video Platform from SundanceThe new Digital Video Infrastructure Platform (DVIP) from Sundance features from three to eleven fixed-point DSPs, equating to as much as 50000 MIPS. Where that is still not sufficient floating-point calculation power for the most demanding real-life application, the DVIP gets a helping hand from closely-coupled Xilinx Virtex-4 FX60 FPGAs. Comsys launches ComMAX Reference Design platforms for WiMAXComsys Communication and Signal Processing, a leader in wireless baseband solutions, today announced the development of two innovative reference design platforms aimed at companies wishing to develop converged cellular and mobile WiMAX terminals. WiMAX OEMs develop quicker with TI's Wave 2 software and development toolsAccording to TI, wireless base station and broadband mobile equipment manufacturers can now eliminate over 15 years of development man-hours with Texas Instruments' WiMAX Forum compliant 802.16e Wave 2 software and development tools platform. The carrier-class nature of the software provides the most up-to-date WiMAX standards-based features that service providers' demand. The development tools include an evaluation module (EVM) based on the company's optimized TMS320TCI6487 digital signal processor (DSP). Together, OEM's can get their systems up and running quickly to capture the growing WiMAX market . 
Tundra Announces Mercury Computer Systems Sublicenses RapidIO Tsi578 MicroTCA Switching ModuleTundra Semiconductor has announced that it has sublicensed the Tundra Serial RapidIO Tsi578 MicroTCA Switching Module (Tsi578MSM) reference design to Mercury Computer Systems. Mercury intends to manufacture and integrate the Tsi578MSM into Mercury's MicroTCA-based Ensemble systems for WiMAX and LTE wireless applications, in addition to video, military imaging, and signal processing applications. 
ASIC Prototyping System from SynplicitySynplicity has announced an addition to its HAPS (High-performance ASIC Prototyping System) product family. The HAPS-51 leverages the Xilinx Virtex-5 LX330, the industry's largest FPGA, and on-board memory to deliver faster ASIC verification. Previous HAPS systems employed daughter boards for memory access, while the new HAPS-51 uses memory located on the board and next to the FPGA device. As a result, the HAPS-51 system provides a cost-effective, high-performance prototyping solution that reduces development time for today's challenging SoC designs. The HAPS systems are the centerpiece of Synplicity's powerful Confirma at-speed ASIC/ASSP verification platform. Strategic Test cuts prices for XScale PXA320 and PXA270 Development KitsStrategic Test, a world-leading supplier of Marvel XScale PXA320, PXA270 and PXA255 Development Kits and System-On-Modules has announced dramatic price reductions of up to 50% on its PXA320 and PXA270 Development Kits. In addition the Kits will be supplied with the in-house developed BSP's for Microsoft Windows CE and Linux at no extra cost. The special offer runs from October 1 until December 31, 2007. CoWare Platform-driven ESL Design Methodology Reduces Design Cycles for IBM PowerPC® 440 and IBM CoreConnectTM-based ApplicationsCoWare, Inc. announced two new IBM model sets have been added to its SystemC Model Library. These include the IBM PowerPC 440 Processor Support Package and the IBM CoreConnect Bus Library, which consist of a set of SystemC models for PLB and DCR busses, and is available with some sample PLB and DCR peripherals. 
Free Spice Simulation Software For Linear Circuits Available From Analog Devices And National InstrumentsAnalog Devices has announced the availability of a free, downloadable circuit design environment that simplifies and speeds product design by allowing developers to capture schematics and simulate circuits for evaluation of ADI's world-leading operational amplifiers (op amps) and other linear circuits. Developed by National Instruments , NI Multisim Analog Devices Edition is a new version of the NI Multisim SPICE simulation software created for component evaluation and circuit design. The new tool, loaded with over 800 ADI op amps and other linear circuits, helps shrink product development time by allowing designers to quickly and easily select, evaluate, prototype and test ADI's linear circuits in a low-risk "virtual evaluation board" environment. 
Development kit simplifies design of medical telemetry systemsZarlink Semiconductor Inc. has introduced a development kit that enables faster design and evaluation of wireless telemetry systems linking implanted medical devices with monitoring and programming equipment. Medical device manufacturers are developing telemetry systems that will support new monitoring, diagnostic and therapeutic applications to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Zarlink's ZL70101 radio frequency (RF) transceiver chip is being designed into a range of implanted medical devices, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), neurostimulators, drug pumps and physiological monitors, and associated external monitoring and programming equipment. 3D solid models available for all Omnetics’ COTS and Standard connector productsOmnetics has announced that 3-D solid models are now available as downloadable files for its entire range of COTs and standard connector products, including its Bi-lobe (nano miniature), Strip and Circular families. Omnetics 3-D models are created as STEP Files (.stp) made to be imported into a variety of different CAD programs (ProE, Solidworks, Inventor, etc.) CoWare and STMicroelectronics Create Advanced ESL Design Automation Environment for ST's Next Generation Custom ProcessorsCoWare has collaborated successfully with STMicroelectronics to create an advanced ESL design automation environment based on CoWare's Processor Designer and CORXpert Personalization Kit for STMicroelectronics custom processors. |
