8051 ICE for TEMIC Semiconductors Runs at 60 MHz

CHICAGO, IL – February 29, 2000 – Signum Systems Corp. and Temic Semiconductors have released a new emulation solution to support the TEMIC Semiconductors’ TS8xC51Rx2 and TS8xC51U2 microcontroller families.

The new TEMIC Semiconductors devices are members of the 8051 family of microcontrollers which feature double speed mode, Dual Data Pointers, enhanced Watchdog with Idle and Power-Down modes. TS8xC51Rx2 includes additional internal data memory and a Programmable Counter Array. TS8xC51U2 includes two independent UARTs with a dedicated baud rate generator. Signum Systems’ USP-51A emulator with the new POD51RX2 and POD51U2 fully emulates the TEMIC Semiconductors TS8xC51RA2, RB2, RC2, RD2 and U2 devices in targets at the maximum clock speed of 60 MHz. The POD uses a standard TS80C51RD2 or U2 device for emulation and allows to switch between internal and external clock and power sources via software control.

"Our continued partnership with Signum Systems offers our customers the fastest emulator tools that fully support our growing family of high-speed products," said Manish VADHER, TEMIC Semiconductor’s Marketing Director for standard Microcontrollers products. "This is the first time standard 8051 microcontrollers with internal program memory are emulated at this speed."

"Signum Systems is proud of its success in releasing emulation support for the Temic Semiconductors’ new embedded microcontrollers and we look forward to supporting all the future Flash variations of the TS8xC51Rx2 family at their early silicon stage," said Jerry Lewandowski, president of Signum Systems. "Providing development solutions available for our customers at silicon release allows them to take full advantage of the latest features of this advanced microcontroller family and to shorten their time-to-market cycle."

To allow for this high-speed in-target emulation, the USP-51A emulator uses small PODs that plug directly into the user’s 40-pin DIL, 44-PLCC and 68-PLCC sockets. QFP footprints are supported with optional socket adapters.

POD51RX2 and POD51U2 fully support debugging of target power-up and power-down sequences and do not introduce any limitations or restrictions on the user’s application software or hardware. Unlike the competing 8051 emulators, Signum Systems unique dual-ported ICE overlay memory allows read and write access to variables while the microcontroller is running, without slowing down or stopping user’s application.

The new PODs work with Signum Systems’ USP-51A line of In-Circuit Emulators which now support hundreds of 8051 derivatives from all major semiconductor vendors. Prices for POD51RX2 and POD51U2 start at $1,395. For further information on POD51RX2, POD51U2 and USP-51A emulators call (805) 383-3682 or visit Signum Systems’ web site at www.signum.com.

About Signum Systems
Ever since its foundation in 1979, Signum Systems positioned itself in the mainstream of the embedded emulation market. Signum Systems supplies full featured in-circuit emulators (ICE), JTAG based emulators and Multi-Core Debuggers to developers of microcontroller, microprocessor, RISC and DSP (Digital Signal Processor) based systems.

Signum Systems Corp. has its headquarters in Moorpark, CA and a sales office in Fremont, CA. Worldwide distribution is provided by a net of distributors in 15 countries. Web site: http://www.signum.com.

About TEMIC Semiconductors
TEMIC Semiconductors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) designs, manufactures and markets on a worldwide basis technically advanced integrated circuits to serve Communications, Automotive, Dataprocessing and Aerospace markets, using CMOS, BiCMOS, BCDMOS and SiGe technologies.

TEMIC Semiconductors manufacturing facilities are QS-9000 certified (Nantes, France, and Heilbronn, Germany) and ISO-9002 certified (Manila, Philippines).

Worldwide and local customers are supported by a network of Company sales engineers as well as registered sales representatives and electronic component distributors. Web site: http://www.temic-semi.com.

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