Low-footprint, vendor-supported stack accelerates Ethernet-based development using network-focused MCU family
Geneva, February 28, 2008 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) has made the NicheLite(TM) TCP/IP stack available free of charge with its STR91x 32-bit Flash microcontrollers featured for networking applications, lowering cost-of-entry to that of open-source offerings but with the advantage of vendor support facilities. Compared to other third-party stacks, NicheLite is also royalty-free, helping manufacturers predict and manage their production costs.
NicheLite, from InterNiche Technologies, Inc., accelerates development of applications requiring Ethernet connectivity. ST and InterNiche, a specialist provider of embedded Internet Protocol software stacks, have tailored the standard stack for optimal performance with the STR91x. The stack capabilities can also be easily extended with add-on modules already available from InterNiche.
As a fully-featured TCP/IP stack with a memory footprint of less than 12 Kbytes, NicheLite delivers memory efficiency, low cost and power savings in embedded systems. Features include a compact TCP layer optimized for simple memory management, data copy prevention, low memory usage and high data throughput. The NicheLite IP layer supports one hardware interface and is compatible with Internet, email and network-management protocols also available from InterNiche. These include NicheStack PPP, FTP, Telnet Server, HTTP Server, DHCP Server, Email, and SNMP. Other valuable protocols supported include Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Client Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP).
Customers developing applications for the STR91x family can implement NicheLite at no charge, with the option to purchase support from InterNiche as required. Included with the stack is the NicheTool debugging and tuning software suite, which provides powerful porting and optimization capabilities.
Cost-effective access to NicheLite complements the architecture and peripherals of ST's STR91x family, which is optimized for high performance in embedded networking applications. Building on the inherently high throughput of the ARM966E-S core, ST has added high-speed burst Flash memory and zero-latency SRAM for efficient instruction execution and data movement. This allows the STR91x family to achieve 96 MIPS peak code execution at 96MHz. In addition, up to nine fully featured Direct Memory Access (DMA) channels minimize loading on the CPU during data transfers. The on-chip Ethernet DMA controller, for example, allows raw Ethernet frames to be transferred into SRAM at 91 Mbps while imposing only 10% CPU loading. Other advantages for networking applications requiring real-time performance include dynamic power-scaling capabilities, as well as a wide variety of on-chip peripherals and interfaces. These include a USB Full Speed interface, CAN interface, three UART/IrDA interfaces, two SPI ports, two I2C ports, an eight-channel 10-bit ADC, four 16-bit timers and a 3-phase AC motor control unit.
STR91x MCUs are available in 80- and 128- LQFP packages and 144-pin BGA package, with up to 544 Kbytes of on-chip Flash and a maximum 96 Kbytes RAM. Prices start at $5.50 in quantities of 10,000 units.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2007, the Company's net revenues were $10 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
STMicroelectronics, Inc. Lexington Corporate Center 10 Maguire Road Bldg. 1, 3rd Floor Lexington, MA 02421 (781) 861 2650 www.st.com
Carol Brown STMicroelectronics US Media Relations 603 465 9213 Company Information: Name: STMicroelectronics Address: 39, Chemin du Champ des Filles, C. P. 21 City: GENEVA Country: Switzerland Phone: +41 22 929 29 29 FAX: +41 22 929 29 00 http://www.st.com
News provided by ThomasNet News® (TNN). TNN is a comprehensive source
of new and timely product information in the industrial marketplace. TNN supplies new product
information to the web sites, e-marketplaces and print publications that serve the
industrial marketplace. For press release submissions please go to
http://news.thomasnet.com/submitpr.html.
BY ACCESSING, BROWSING AND/OR USING THIS WEB SITE AND/OR ANY WEB SITES PROVIDED BY
ProductNews.com, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF USE
AGREEMENT.
del.icio.us
DIGG
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Twitter
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
