Cypress Microsystems Slashes Microcontroller Development Time and Cost With Software Tool Set that Enables Dynamic Reconfiguration
PSoC Designer(TM) Provides Unparalleled Flexibility and Adaptability for Designers of Industrial Control Applications
BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2002--
Cypress Microsystems, Inc. (CMS) today brought dynamic
reconfiguration to its family of PSoC(TM) (Programmable System on
Chip) microcontrollers (MCU). By enabling design engineers to program
a single chip for a variety functions -- and then change functions on
the fly -- dynamic reconfiguration reduces the time and costs of
application development and provides maximum design adaptability
throughout the development process.
Designed for flexibility, the PSoC microcontroller technology
enables designers to select from a variety of peripheral "building
blocks" to define the functionality that best fits their application
and then easily map them to the underlying analog and digital hardware
blocks. In contrast, traditional fixed-function microcontrollers offer
little or no flexibility on the peripheral set of an individual
device.
Dynamic reconfiguration is made possible by CMS's new PSoC
Designer(TM) Software Tool Set, which includes a device editor, an
application editor and a debugger. The development process begins by
defining the peripheral set within the device editor subsystem. A
graphical user interface (GUI) provides point-and-click capabilities
to make specific peripheral choices. These choices generate the
register bit settings to implement the desired peripheral set, as well
as software for application programming interfaces (APIs), and
interrupt service routines (ISRs).
Our customers care about how quickly and efficiently designs are
finished," said Nathan John, director of marketing for CMS. "Dynamic
reconfiguration can not only shave 30 percent off normal development
time, but can streamline the design process by providing the
flexibility to reconfigure of the microcontroller at any time."
In addition to changing the peripheral set on the PSoC MCU during
the development process, developers can dynamically change the
peripheral set during the run time of the application. The PSoC
Designer allows the developer to create multiple peripheral
configurations, and specify the events that will trigger the switch
between these configurations. MCU systems typically go through
multiple states during operation and the developer can have a unique
configuration for each one of these states.
"Re-using on-chip resources provides developers with an effective
way of reducing component inventory and costs," adds John. "It's like
having a multiple MCUs in the same socket."
PSoC Designer Highlights
A real-time trace buffer follows the machine code and shows
exactly what the in-circuit emulator is executing. Developers can
trace up to a maximum of 64,000 entries. In addition, a time stamp or
external event capture can be included in the trace buffer contents.
- An application editor serves as the source editor for the
system. Developers can create and modify their code, as well
as set software breakpoints for use in the debugging process.
- A device editor allows developers to select desired
peripherals to optimize the features to the application task
at hand. This software also allows the creation of multiple
configurations that can be loaded and unloaded during run
time.
- Dynamic event points permit complete trace buffer control in
real time, full-speed and non-intrusive to the microprocessor.
Dynamic event points offer a complex breakpoint capability,
and can trigger internal or external events.
- Developers have the ability to chain up to 64 unique events in
sequence, and can have up to 64,000 iterations of a single
event prior to triggering. Developers can select a section of
executing code, and efficiently analyze complex conditions in
seconds.
- The debugger serves as the interface to the in-circuit
emulator (ICE). Developers use this to run or single step
through their code to look for errors. Upon finding errors,
developers can quickly switch back to the device editor to
change the device configuration, or the application editor to
fix coding errors. In either case, the system will
automatically regenerate code to match the new configuration.
About the PSoC Family
The PSoC microcontroller family integrates a fast, 8-bit CPU; 8 to
16 KBytes of flash memory; SRAM; and programmable arrays of analog and
digital system functions -- known as PSoC blocks -- in low-cost,
small-footprint packages. To save design time, CMS also offers user
modules -- pre-designed peripherals built using these PSoC blocks. By
selecting a PSoC microcontroller with the chosen combination of
memory, PSoC blocks and pins, designers have a device that can be
configured to any application and reduces costs by eliminating
external chips and simplifying system design.
Pricing and Availability
The PSoC CY8C25x/26x microcontroller family design tool is
available now and consists of:
- PSoC Designer (Free)
- Basic Development Kit, including PSoC ICE-4000 ($249)
About Cypress Microsystems
Cypress Microsystems designs, develops, manufactures and markets
high-performance, field programmable integrated micro-based solutions
for high-volume embedded control functions in computer,
communications, consumer and control applications. Established as a
subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:CY - news) in the
fourth quarter of 1999, Cypress Microsystems's stockholders are its
employees and Cypress Semiconductor. The close association with
Cypress Semiconductor allows access to their process and design
technology, and field sales and applications forces. Cypress
Microsystems is based near Seattle in Bothell, Washington. More
information about Cypress Microsystems and its products can be
accessed through its Web site at www.cypressmicro.com.
PSoC, PSoC Designer, and Device Editor are trademarks of Cypress
Microsystems.
Contact:
Cypress Semiconductor PR
Molly Mulloy, 408/896-0144
MOK@cypress.com
or
Cypress MicroSystems
Nathan John, 425/939-1016
Nathan.John@cypressmicro.com
