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April 2006
April 27, 2006
AVR32 - The New 32-bit Stud on the Block
Atmel recently announced a 32-bit controller architecture, the AVR32. With multiple execution units, the AVR32 32-bit RISC processor core is designed to do more processing per clock cycle.
Atmel claims that the AVR32 CPU executes about three times as much processing per clock cycle as its nearest competitor (and that would be ARM?). Often such announcements remain vaporware, but Atmel has just released a piece of real silicon, AT32AP7000.
With a 256 CABGA footprint, its bye bye as far as the hobby community is concerned. Although one can evaluate the processor with the STK1001 and STH1002 MCU daughterboards. Evaluation kits (STK1000) and other tools have been released and should be available with vendors.
Free software tools can be downloaded right off the Atmel website. The tools include AVR32 Studio (simulator and IDE), AVR32GCC and JVM, currently available under Linux OS. A quick way to download the
entire package is this ISO CD image.
Dhananjay V. Gadre
Posted by Dhananjay V. Gadre at 11:39 AM Permalink
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April 21, 2006
Windows Embedded Student ChallengE 2006
In a few hours, submissions for the final reports to one of the most keenly contested Embedded Design Contest would be due. As the name suggests, students from colleges and universities around the world compete to create a theme based Embedded System running Windows CE.
This year, the theme for the Windows Embedded Student ChallengE 2006 is "Preserving, protecting and enhancing the environment."
Around 200 entries are expected for the finals out of which top 30 submissions would be selected for the Finals at Seattle on 23rd and 24th June 2006.
Windows Embedded Student ChallengE designs require building a Windows CE image on top of which applications are developed. The underlying hardware is the Ebox-II Embedded Computer, provided free to qualifying teams by Microsoft. Participants can ofcourse add more interface hardware for their particular application. Ebox-II is a cool piece of hardware running with less than 8W of peak power and with WinCE its amazing. It worked flawless right out of the box.
Last year's winner was team Sam from RMIT, Australia with their submission titled EverGreen: Intelligent Watering System.
This year, I too am mentoring a team from my college and we hope to be in Seattle in June. See ya there!
Dhananjay V. Gadre
Posted by Dhananjay V. Gadre at 12:40 PM Permalink
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April 20, 2006
PicoPower AVR -- MSP430 Gets Competition
The MSP430 Microcontroller family fromm TI has been one of the lowest power consuming Microcontrollers around. Infact, one of the favourite marketing gimmick is a small demonstration using a MSP430 application powered using a grape/apple battery!
Recently, Atmel announced a new addition to their exisiting line of 8-bit AVR Microcontroller family, called the PicoPower AVR. The key features are:
- True 1.8V Supply Voltage
- Minimized Leakage Current
- Sleeping BOD
- Ultra Low Power 32 kHz Crystal Oscillator
- Digital Input Disable Registers
- Power Reduction Register
- Clock Gating
- Flash Sampling
Power Save mode is the most highlighted power number. The new 32kHz oscillator brings Power Save mode almost down to Power Down. An example from the new mega165P: Power Save mode @ 2.2V,typical current consumption 0.6uA, with the 32kHz running!
Posted by Dhananjay V. Gadre at 04:18 PM Permalink
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