8051 Microcontroller IP Cores from CAST Even More Efficient with New Single-Wire Debug

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, May 30, 2012 — Semiconductor IP provider CAST, Inc. now offers a debugging solution for 8051 IP cores that requires a single connection instead of the four needed for traditional JTAG debug.

The new Single-Wire On-chip Rapid Debugging (SWORD™) interface for the R8051XC2™ microcontroller core connects the 8051 to its debugging unit with just one IC debug port. The popular Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) IEEE 1149.1 Standard Test Access Port and Boundary-Scan Architecture requires four such connections for the same functionality. SWORD thus requires three less chip pads than JTAG, a significant savings for mobile and other challenging system applications.

"Our customers continue to find the 8051 to be the best choice for many applications, either as a controller for embedded systems or a subfunction processor within larger SoCs,” said Nikos Zervas, vice president of marketing for CAST. ”This new SWORD single-wire debug makes the 8051 core even more resource-efficient, saving three pins over JTAG yet still providing complete debugging capabilities.”

The SWORD interface works with the Evatronix™ Application-Debugging Support Environment (EASE™) CAST offers for the 8051 cores. The innovative software debugging package uses a special block in the 8051 core and a SWORD or JTAG connection to an external debug pod; designers run and debug their software application using an included interface or the popular tools from Keil™.

CAST and Evatronix, SA have helped hundreds of customers successfully deliver 8051-based systems since first offering an 8051 core in 1997. SWORD is available for the R8051XC2 8051 core, a configurable version with one of the fastest available execution speeds (12.1 times the original). Other available cores compatible with the MCS®51 instruction set include the space-opimized, tiny T8051 core, and the more capable R80251XC 80251 IP core.

Learn more by calling +1 201.391.8300, emailing info@cast-inc.com, or visiting www.cast-inc.com.