Evatronix USB subplatforms enable easy design-in of USB connectivity into System on Chips

Preintegrated solutions based on the company USB function controllers, R8051XC configurable microcontroller core and USB software stack available now!

Gliwice & Bielsko-Biala, Poland, September 11, 2007 - The silicon Intellectual Property (IP) provider, Evatronix SA, today announced availability of its preintegrated USB solutions aimed at implementing applications using full speed (12 Mb/s) or high speed (480Mb/s) USB connections. Evatronix USB subplatforms enable rapid development and verification of systems-on-chip (SoCs) that are dedicated to use in a wide range of USB based applications including mass storage, audio-video communication and other use.

“Conceptual complexity of USB interface is always a design challenge, even when the USB is not a core part of the application.“- said Dariusz Kaczmarczyk, USB product line manager at Evatronix SA. “We provide our customers with a solution, that enable them to reduce development effort and associated risk. Therefore our customers can focus on differentiating features of their products, rather than on USB interface functionality. Our subplatforms were carefully tested in the real USB applications that were developed as reference designs and can be used as a base for customers projects. They are available for each subplatform licensee with a full access to a source code.” - he added.

Elements of Evatronix’s USB subplatform include:

• USB Full-Speed controller or USB Full/Hi-Speed controller,
• R8051XC configurable microcontroller,
• USB software stack optimized for 8-bit architecture.
  
  

A rich set of programmable features and provided configuration script facilitate the modification of the USB controllers functionality to fit the specific application requirements and to achieve optimum performance for any type of USB application. Evatronix’s USB function controllers have been verified using a number of third party ULPI and UTMI transceivers (PHY) and have successfully passed USB IF certification process.

In most cases R8051XC has enough processing power to run the USB software stack and thus successfully handle USB transfers along with running the complete application software. The use of Evatronix’s USB subplatforms ensures complete off-loading of the main processor from handling USB transfers in multiprocessor systems.

R8051XC and its predecessors ( Evatronix’s R8051 and R80515 cores) were used in more than one hundred thirty chip designs. R8051XC achieves up to 9.6 times better performance (in DMIPS per MHz) than the standard Intel 8051 architecture and runs with clock rates above 300 MHz (in 130 nm processes). Extreme configurability of R8051XC allows in theory over 70 trillion legal configurations and thus enables real silicon savings – peripheral set can be tuned exactly into customer needs and some instructions can be excluded from implementation. Complete debugging solution based on an on-chip instrumentation module and Keil PK51 development kit is available.

Evatronix’s USB Software Stack is tuned for their USB controllers and fully complies with USB 2.0 standard. The software stack is optimized for 8-bit architecture and has small memory footprint (simple application requires only 14kBytes), which makes it easier for designers to meet their memory size limitations. Users can choose features required by their application as the Software Stack is scalable. It provides Device Application Programming Interfaces (DAPI) which allows users to develop their software without detailed knowledge of the USB controller hardware. A wide range of available reference designs significantly reduce the learning curve.

Example applications have been prototyped on proprietary development boards based on Xilinx or Altera FPGAs and equipped T&MT connectors dedicated to attach external USB transceivers (PHYs). The list of reference designs includes:

• USB Human Interface Device (HID) class – mouse,
• USB Mass Storage device class (MSC) – portable disk or pendrive,
• USB Video Class (UVC) – camera,
• USB Audio class – microphone and loudspeakers.
  

Availability and customization possibilities

Both R8051XC based USB platforms are available now. Optional elements such as hardware development platforms are also available off-the-shelf.

While standard configurations of the USB subplatforms cover multitude of USB applications, Evatronix design team is ready to assist its customers to set or extend standard solutions ( including software) for their particular projects.

About Evatronix

Evatronix SA, headquartered in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, founded in 1991 develops electronic virtual components (IP cores) and provides electronic design services. The company’s main design office is located in Gliwice (Poland) that guarantees easy access to the talent pool of graduates from the Silesian University of Technology. Evatronix IP cores are available worldwide through the sales channels of its strategic distribution partner CAST, Inc. (New Jersey, USA). In the EU countries (excluding UK) and in Switzerland Evatronix also operates a direct sales channel. Design services are offered directly by Evatronix world wide. More information on the company and its product portfolio can be found on the company’s web site at www.evatronix.pl .