Design

Tensilica 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, 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.

AVIX-RT, a manufacturer of embedded software solutions, has announced the availability of version 2.2 of its RTOS AVIX-16. AVIX-16 is an RTOS targeting 16 bit microcontrollers belonging to the Microchip PIC24F, PIC24H, dsPIC30F and dsPIC33F families.

Guaranteed to still be in production until 2016, the new ICOP-6150 single board computer from Datasound Laboratories is based on the latest Vortex86SX CPU, providing 300MHz of processing power in a compact, 90 x 96mm industry standard package.

Infolytica 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.

The Eurotech QUANTUM PXA270 based SO-DIMM format Single Board Computer module gives OEMs a low power, high performance and cost effective computer component for easy integration into their application specific motherboards. Its ready to run potential eliminates the work and risk involved with designing the complex processor core and operating system element. Designers can focus on the I/O and interface features unique to their market application.

Connect One has announced a reference design and a corresponding evaluation board that bring together the 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) for application control and the CO2128 iChip for secure, reliable TCP/IP connectivity to LAN and GPRS networks. The marriage of Microchip’s PIC24 and Connect One’s secure iChip offers an attractive option to system architects needing to develop and manage an open and flexible Internet-enabled application.

Mouser 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, 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 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.