Mentor extends ReadyStart embedded software platform to TI’s Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs

WILSONVILLE, USA: Mentor Graphics Corp. announced the Mentor Embedded ReadyStart Platform support for the Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 microcontrollers (MCUs).

The recently announced ReadyStart Platform is a “ready-to-use” solution comprising integrated software IP, tools, and services targeting popular hardware boards and system-on-chips (SoCs). The Mentor Embedded ReadyStart Platform for the Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 9000 series of MCUs will be demonstrated at the ARM TechCon in Santa Clara, California, November 10-11, 2010.

The ReadyStart Platform is ideal for small footprint, high-performance, and low-power applications, providing developers with ready-to-use demonstrations and configurations that shorten the time to develop medical, industrial, automotive, and consumer devices.

The TI Stellaris 9000 Series MCU platform is ideal for single-board computing, communications and networking applications since the device supports low-power graphical user interface (GUI) and display capabilities. Coupling the Nucleus ReadyStart product with the DK-LM3S9B96 development kit provides a tightly integrated board support package with a high level of connectivity support, resulting in cost-efficiencies for embedded developers.

Together, the ReadyStart Platform with the Stellaris board support provides a highly scalable solution for effective product development, particularly applications that require displays and low power graphics with no hardware acceleration.

The ReadyStart Platform tightly integrates the Mentor Graphics Nucleus RTOS with the Inflexion Platform user interface (UI) runtime engine for 2D, 2.5D and 3D graphics and wired and wireless connectivity middleware.

The ReadyStart Platform provides a single distribution to accelerate fast “bring-up” of a complete system, including a board support package (BSP) interface for TI’s Stellaris family of MCUs, and power management services to optimize low-power design.

“Our mutual customers are seeking better methods to innovate in today’s highly competitive market,” said Jean Anne Booth, director, worldwide Stellaris marketing and customer-facing engineering TI. “The ReadyStart Platform provides Stellaris MCU customers with a rapid solution for device customization, which will drive innovation in applications such as handheld medical, in-home metering, industrial automation, POS terminals and human machine interfaces.”

“Today’s software developers are dealing with increasing design complexity, shorter time to market, and integration challenges for low-power, high-performance, multicore/multi-OS architectures, and market-specific functionality,” said Shay Benchorin, director of marketing, Mentor Graphics Embedded Software Division. “Our ReadyStart Platform and our tight relationship with TI will enable our customers to meet these challenges and deliver a fast and efficient methodology to innovate with confidence.”

The ReadyStart Platform for the Nucleus product is listed at $24,995 and includes the Nucleus RTOS, wired and wireless connectivity middleware, and the Inflexion UI runtime engine for a single project with two developer seats.

The EDGE Debugger tool and the Inflexion UI Express platform are provided for evaluation and available for purchase on a per-seat basis. A JTAG probe solution is also available.