Hitachi's Integrated Development Environment Makes it Easier for Customers to Write Software for Embedded Control Applications

Business Wire, March 11, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2002

Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. today introduced the Hitachi Embedded Workshop version 2.0 (HEW2), a powerful integrated development environment. The new software design and debugging tool helps system engineers write better optimized application software -- more easily and in less time -- for embedded systems that use Hitachi's popular H8 and SuperH(R) microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs). Hitachi will demonstrate the product today at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Calif.

Compared to the previous HEW v1.1 version, the HEW2 development environment provides greater functionality for the same affordable price. It includes an integrated code simulator that allows application code to be debugged even when hardware isn't available. New C/C compiler toolchains generate code that executes faster or takes less memory space on Hitachi processors. The HEW2 has other enhancements, as well.

One familiar interface, many functions

The upgraded development environment provides a familiar graphical user interface with menus, toolbars, status bars, dockable windows and many context-sensitive local menus. System engineers can quickly learn the powerful tools they need for developing application code, and they have easy-to-use control over those tools. Moreover, they work with an interface that remains consistent across the entire range of Hitachi MCUs and MPUs for greater efficiency.

Besides providing the compiler, assembler and linker tools needed for optimized software builds, and the simulator/debugger for testing the application code produced in the build process, the HEW2 environment has functions that engineers can use to create and manage entire embedded software projects. It offers tools for project creation, file management, version control, source code editing, control of software build configurations, dependency checking, and toolchain configuration control.

Wizards simplify start-up processes

System engineers can start projects fast by taking advantage of the HEW2's Project Generator "Wizards," which guide them through the selection of configuration options, debugger targets and the creation of startup code. An intermodule optimizing linker produces better optimized software load modules. Also, the editor is enhanced, primarily to support debugging; break functions are improved; and the toolchain options are integrated into a single dialog and automatically configured for code building and debugging.

Engineers can more easily measure how the application code executes on the processor by using the HEW2's new graphical analysis features: CPU Address Map view, Link Map file viewer, "Call Walker" stack trace analyzer, and Image and Waveform debugger views of data in memory.

High functionality, competitive price

The HEW2 integrated development environment for Hitachi MCUs and MPUs is priced the same as the previous version, offering enhanced features at no extra cost.

A special, size-limited HEW2 version will be bundled at no extra cost with the $49 "board-in-a-bag" evaluation hardware for the H8 Tiny and H8/300L MCU families. Its H8 C/C compiler allows code generation for the entire 64-KB address space of these devices. This hardware/software evaluation development kit (EDK) is an extremely cost-effective way for engineers to begin designing with the upwardly compatible series in the H8 MCU family.

Hitachi plans future releases of the HEW development environment in 2002. These enhanced versions will add hardware support to the integrated debugger for the E6000 range of in-circuit emulators and E10 range of on-chip emulators, as well as for Hitachi ROM monitors.

Availability

The HEW2 integrated development environment includes the project creation and management tools and is bundled with compilers, assemblers, linkers, an object format converter, simulator, manuals and an installer. It runs on Windows(R) 95, 98, 2000 and NT PCs.

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Hitachi Product Number                          Availability
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USS008PXIW2SR  (for H8 series MCUs)             April 1, 2002
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US0700PXIW2SR (for SuperH series)               April 1, 2002
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Customers who own HEW v1.1 products should contact Hitachi for information about low-cost upgrade packages.

Reader contact

Readers can find additional product and contact information on Hitachi Semiconductor's Web site at www.hitachi.com/semiconductor or by calling 800/285-1601.

About Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc.

Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., supports the requirements of the North American marketplace with a broad range of standard and low-power semiconductor solutions. Offering some of the industry's most popular microcontrollers, microprocessors, SRAMs and other semiconductor solutions, Hitachi provides chips to the world's leading device manufacturers within industrial, consumer and emerging market applications. Hitachi's substantial design engineering, research and development facilities in the United States help bring the world's best technology to U.S. customers. For more information, visit: www.hitachi.com/semiconductor