Analog Devices, Express Logic Debut ThreadX RTOS for Blackfin Processor
4/12/2004 - Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI) and Express Logic, Inc. extended their collaborative relationship to produce an enhanced version of Express Logic’s popular ThreadX® real-time operating system (RTOS) for ADI’s Blackfin® Processor family. The newly announced ThreadX/SMP RTOS eases developers’ ability to manage the complex task of programming a dual-core SMP embedded processor.
Architected as an SMP system, ADI’s dual-core Blackfin Processor allows customers to maximize performance, accessing up to two 750MHz Blackfin cores to handle even the most demanding embedded systems. This is particularly important for media-rich applications that require intensive video/audio signal processing as well as standard control functions that regulate memory usage, I/O operations and more. Through its relationship with ADI, Express Logic will offer Blackfin developers a SMP version of the ThreadX RTOS that provides load balancing across each of Blackfin’s two cores; this greatly simplifies the process of developing for a dual-core platform, expediting development time and ultimately speeding time-to-market.
“With Express Logic offering seamless integration with our VisualDSP++ software development environment, our relationship with Express Logic has already benefited numerous Blackfin developers who require a compact, royalty-free RTOS,” said Phil Davies, director, Embedded Media Platforms, Analog Devices, Inc. “Through Express Logic’s development effort to bring an SMP version of ThreadX to the Blackfin community, Express Logic is achieving an industry first: delivering a true multiprocessor development environment for consumer electronics applications.”
“With our ThreadX RTOS being the most widely deployed royalty-free, real-time operating system in the industry, we are committed to supporting ADI’s Blackfin because it is the emerging leader in the embedded processor space,” said William E. Lamie, President, Express Logic, Inc. “As the first to announce multi-processing support for Blackfin, we are excited to enable developers to leverage the full power of the dual-core programmable Blackfin architecture.”
About ADI’s Blackfin Processor
The Blackfin Processor is the first in a new breed of embedded processors designed specifically to meet the computational demands and power constraints of today’s embedded audio, video and communications applications. Based on the Micro Signal Architecture (MSA) jointly developed with Intel Corporation, ADI’s Blackfin Processor family combines a 32-bit RISC-like instruction set with 16-bit dual multiply accumulate (MAC) signal processing functionality and ease-of-use attributes found in general-purpose microcontrollers. Dynamic Power Management enables breakthrough power consumption by allowing the simultaneous adjustment of operating frequency and voltage under application control.
Because they are code-compatible, all Blackfin Processors provide portability of design. In addition, Blackfin Processors are fully supported by ADI’s CROSSCORETM development tool product line which includes the VisualDSP++® Integrated Development and Debug Environment (IDE), by Express Logic’s ThreadX/SMP RTOS and by other third-party tool vendors. Blackfin Processors are priced in the $5-$40 per-unit range in 10,000 unit quantities. For more information on Blackfin, please visit: www.analog.com/blackfin or see ADI at electronicaUSA with the Embedded Systems Conference (eUSA), Booth #1902, March 30-April 1, 2004 in San Francisco.
For More Information and Availability
For more information on Express Logic’s ThreadX/SMP, please join Analog Devices and Express Logic representatives at a presentation being held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, room 123 on Wednesday, March 31, 2004: “Survival Guide to Embedded Media Processing Applications,” a Meet the Gurus panel discussion held during electronicaUSA with the Embedded Systems Conference (eUSA).
Express Logic’s ThreadX/SMP for ADI’s dual-core Blackfin Processor will be available Q3 2004. Although initial development will take place on a single dual-core Blackfin Processor, ADI and Express Logic plan to extend the ThreadX/SMP load balancing capability to systems with multiple dual-core SMP Blackfin Processors in the future.
About Express Logic and ThreadX
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Express Logic offers the most advanced run-time solution for deeply embedded applications, including the popular ThreadX RTOS, the high-performance TCP/IP stack NetXTM, and the embedded MS-DOS file system FileXTM. All products from Express Logic include full source-code and have no run-time royalties. For more information about Express Logic solutions, please browse to http://www.expresslogic.com, call 1-888-THREADX, or email inquires to sales@expresslogic.com.
About Analog Devices
Analog Devices is a leading manufacturer of precision high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. The company is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, and employs approximately 8,600 people worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Analog Devices' stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the company is included in the S&P 500 Index. Blackfin and VisualDSP++ are registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. ThreadX is a registered trademark of Express Logic, Inc.
Blackfin and VisualDSP++ are registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. ThreadX is a registered trademark of Express Logic, Inc.
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