Design Automation


Development toolchain for 32-bit FTDI micros

20 May 2015 Design Automation

MikroElektronika has released a new set of compilers and development boards for the 32-bit microcontrollers from FTDI Chip’s FT90x range. The solution comprises mikroC, mikroBasic and mikroPascal compilers, an EasyFT90x v7 board, a clicker 2 for FT90x board and, to tie the software and hardware together, mikroProg for FT90x.

This toolchain follows in the footsteps of the company’s support for other 32-bit architectures including Microchip’s PIC32 as well as two ARM vendors. What sets FT32 – upon which FT90x is based – apart is its execution from ‘shadow RAM’ and performance up to 3,1 DMIPS/MHz. Since it’s also fast enough to stream video, a camera parallel interface is provided.

Built on MikroElektronika’s familiar form factors, the FT90x compilers come with more than 500 functions and more than 150 examples. They also offer time saving features such as the use of wild cards in code completion. For example, by typing ‘*can’ followed by ‘CTRL+space’ the user is provided with a complete list of identifiers that include CAN anywhere in their name.

The EasyFT90x v7 board includes everything necessary for developers to take selfies, thanks to the FT90x’s camera parallel interface and a CMOS image sensor; video can also be streamed directly to the onboard EasyTFT. The board is equipped with an onboard programmer, mikroBUS sockets, two analog inputs, CAN, USB host and device ports, and more.

A more compact hardware counterpart to the compilers is clicker 2 for FT90x. The fast click board two seater lets users quickly build up a working gadget using MikroElektronika’s selection of 100 ‘click’ boards. This also allows for experimentation to learn how FT90x integrates with a variety of transceivers, sensors, displays and motor drivers.

Finally, mikroProg for FT90x is a hardware programmer/debugger in a white casing. Although EasyFT90x v7 already has a mikroProg onboard, for everything else this hardware debugger is the most efficient way to debug applications. It’s especially useful in the beginning, for those still getting acquainted with the new architecture.

For more information contact Dizzy Enterprises, +27 (0)11 022 5323, [email protected], www.dizzy.co.za



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