Extensive support for new Power Architecture 32-bit automotive MCUs MPC560/MPC563xx and SPC560xx/SPC563xx from Freescale and STMicroelectronics

At the same time as the launch of the automotive microcontroller families SPC560xx/SPC563xx from STMicroelectronics and MPC560/MPC563xx from Freescale, pls Programmierbare Logik & Systeme announces the availability of its Universal Debug Engine (UDE) 2.4, a complete debug and test environment especially for the specific features of these new Power Architecture 32-bit devices.

The high-end MCUs from the Joint Development Program (JDP) of Freescale and STMicroelectronics, are based on the e200 core with variable length encoding (VLE) instruction set and are currently designed for operating frequencies from 40 MHz to 80 MHz. By mean of an internal multi-master crossbar switch, an exceptionally high performance - for these clock speeds - is achieved.

In addition, the Power Architecture 32-bit devices - currently provided with up to 1.5 Mbytes of Flash and 64 Kbytes of RAM - feature an integrated memory management unit (MMU), DSP and floating-point functionality and a variety of peripheral interfaces and functions such as FlexRay, FlexCAN, LINFlex, eTPU, ADC, SPI and timer.

With the UDE 2.4, target system access to the Power Architecture 32-bit devices from STMicroelectronics and Freescale takes place by means of pls' Universal Access Device 2 (UAD2) via JTAG (NEXUS class 3). The unique JTAG extender of the UAD2+ allows a distance of several meters between target and host PCs with high interference immunity and transfer rates of up to 1 Mbyte/s.

The UDE 2.4 offers unrestricted support of the features of the SPC560xx/SPC563xx and MPC560/MPC563xx on-chip debug units. Code breakpoints and data breakpoints can be set easily with a mouse click and a dialog based configuration of complex trigger conditions is possible. Real-time data visualization and simulated I/O are implemented via the JTAG/Nexus port.

The Universal Debug Engine provides transparent use of variable length encoding (VLE). This alternative instruction set consists of 16-bit and 32-bit wide instructions and enables a higher code density. Fast and safe programming of the on-chip Flash, both direct within the debugger and by means of standalone tools e.g. for production environments, is supported by the UDE 2.4.

Even the debugging of programs for the enhanced Time Processor Unit (eTPU) - this relates to a programmable I/O controller with its own instruction set - is unrestricted possible within the UDE user interface.

An additional advantage: The UDE 2.4 is optimized for the specific features of the new Power Architecture 32-bit devices and can be used in combination with Freescale's CodeWarrior Compiler, Wind River's Power PC Compiler, Power PC GNU Compiler and Byte Craft's TPU Compiler.

In the third quarter of 2008, the UDE with the UAD2+ will also support NEXUS trace functions.

Contact for journalist inquiries

pls Programmierbare Logik & Systeme GmbH
Heiko Riessland
Technologiepark
D-02991 Lauta
Phone: +49 35722/384-0
Fax: +49 35722/384-69
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Internet: http//www.pls-mc.com