FPGA-Based PMC Card with 4 Fiber Optic Channels from VMETRO

By coupling the fiber optic communications with a user programmable FPGA, the PMC-FPGA03F PMC Module can perform a host of demanding signal processing tasks efficiently before the data reaches the host processor. Windows, VxWorks and Linux supported.

Altera, for example, announced that it has begun to ship Cyclone™ II development kits, enhancing its product offering for its second-generation low-cost FPGA family. Target designs are Nios® II, DSP, and PCI. Xilinx wowed the crowd with version 4.0 of its MicroBlaze™ soft processor. And company partner, Memec introduced 'Mini-modules' in support of Xilinx. Each Memec Mini-Module is a pin-compatible daughterboard containing a Xilinx® Virtex-4 or Spartan-3 FPGA, associated peripherals and configuration hardware that plugs onto a development board or end-user system board. Kits are priced at $250 and $195, respectively. Release, here.

Not at the show, but important nonetheless was an announcement by Hitex of an 'SOC Platform for 8051 Devices,' namely a kit for software development of 8051-based SOC's. Release here. The 8051 never dies, it just keeps going and going and going.

On the software side, May showcased Microsoft's Developer Forum or MEDC for 'Microsoft Embedded Developer Conference.' At the highest level of generality, Microsoft provides an interactive survey to 'choose' the best flavor of Windows, here.

Primarily, developers choose Windows CE for smaller, more RTOS-sensitive consumer applications and Windows XP Embedded for larger, less power-sensitive, and less RTOS-stringent applications. A third variant - full desktop Windows XP with RTOS enhancements - is worthy of close consideration.

Windows XP, after all, is valuable for its powerful graphics capabilities, the depth of software available for the platform, and its ability to interface easily with back office and 'non-embedded' PC applications. That said, the most interesting items at Windows Devcon came from companies that enhanced desktop XP to act in a realtime/embedded environment:

• KUKA Controls - the company's real-time extension, CeWin® allows Windows to coexist with an RTOS in the same application;
• Ardence, which recently announced the latest version of RTX, its own varient of an embedded real-time solution for Windows operating systems; and
• TenAsys, whose INtime 3.0 represents a real-time extension for Windows XP.

(conference, 4 stars) - 6/5/2005, Chicago

SuperComm 2005
SUPERCOMM is the global marketplace for communications technologies, systems, and ideas. Through nearly 800 exhibitors and 200+ educational sessions, SUPERCOMM's participants gain a clear perspective on what's ahead, no matter what decisions they face.

(conference, 4 stars) - 6/6/2005, San Jose

PCI-SIG Developers Conference 2005
The PCI-SIG Developers Conference 2005 will be the premier technology training event for systems architects, designers, engineers and engineering managers who are working toward compliance and interoperability with PCI Express® Architecture, PCI-X® 2.0 and Conventional PCI.

(conference, 4 stars) - 6/13/2005, Anaheim

Design Automation Conference
The 42nd Design Automation Conference (DAC) is the premier annual event for the electronic design automation (EDA) industry, focusing on the integration of EDA tools and design methodologies for effective system-level design.

(seminar, 4 stars) - 6/14/2005, Various Cities

An open standards approach to developing data-critical networked applications.
Real-Time Innovations has combined open architecture real-time publish-subscribe middleware together with a relational database management system (RDBMS). To learn more about this advanced new architecture for developing data-critical networked applications, sign up for this complimentary technical seminar. Lunch will be hosted by Real-Time Innovations. Seating is limited. Register today!

(conference, 4 stars) - 6/20/2005, Orlando

Freescale Technology Forum
If you design for automotive, consumer electronics, industrial control, motor control, networking or wireless applications, you won't want to miss this event. We've combined previous Freescale Semiconductor developer events, including the Smart Networks Developer Forum and the Embedded Connectivity Summit, with additional technology information from our company and our partners.