Cypress Semiconductor has introduced Version 2.1 of PSoC Express, the innovative development tool for PSoC (programmable system on chip) mixed-signal arrays that simplifies embedded design. The new release includes third-party development capabilities that allow software developers to write modules for specific functions. It also adds many new device drivers that designers can select to easily implement functions within a PSoC device, including 7-segment displays, thermocouples, accelerometers, I²C remote monitor and control devices, distance sensors, and ambient light sensors.
PSoC Express, introduced in 2005, is an easy-to-use development tool that allows system engineers to develop microcontroller-based designs without any Assembly language or C programming. By operating at a higher level of abstraction and not requiring firmware development, new designs can be created, simulated and programmed to the targeted PSoC device in hours or days, instead of in weeks or months.
PSoC devices are configurable mixed signal arrays that integrate a fast 8-bit microcontroller with many peripheral functions typically found in an embedded design. PSoC devices provide the advantages of an ASIC without the ASIC NRE or turn-around time. A single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral functions with a microcontroller.
PSoC Express 2.1 also adds a new level of integration with Cypress's full-featured PSoC Designer software. This allows users to complete designs exclusively at a high-level (using only PSoC Express), combine high-level and low-level design (start with PSoC Express and complete with PSoC Designer), or develop exclusively at the machine-level (using only PSoC Designer).
Other new features include user definable pins and memory map, a state machine creator, multi-object move capability, and the ability to duplicate and rename circuits. PSoC Express can be downloaded for free at www.cypress.com/getexpress.
With PSoC Express, designers work within their areas of application expertise, defining a custom solution by choosing input and output devices from a catalogue, and then logically linking them to define system behaviour. For example, a user can select temperature sensors, voltage inputs, fans, LEDs, and then define temperature regions for fan operation, voltage monitor thresholds and 'sequence-on' logic.
Within PSoC Express, the designer is able to verify designs through simulation, then generate and download the device-programming file. The tool allows users to target the design to any of Cypress's PSoC devices. It also creates customised project documentation including a datasheet with register map, interface schematics, and bill of materials. Without writing any microcontroller code, designers can very quickly implement custom applications.
To further accelerate the design cycle, PSoC Express contains illustrative examples that the designer can learn from, use 'as-is' or modify to meet specific application requirements. A proprietary application generation engine utilises a catalogue including real-world-device drivers (eg, fans, thermistors, switches, voltages, etc), transfer functions (state machine, truth table, threshold checking, priority encoder, etc) and communication protocols such as I²C and RS232, all of which are combined visually by the designer to build custom solutions.
PSoC Designer, the traditional software development environment for PSoC, is a full-featured, GUI-based design tool suite that enables the user to configure design-in silicon with simple point and click options. Also free, it can be downloaded from www.cypress.com/psocexpress.
For more information contact Lambert Colyn, Arrow Altech Distribution, +27 (0)11 923 9600, lcolyn@arrow.altech.co.za
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