Luminary Micro Introduces Two New Stellaris® Evaluation Kits and Reduces Prices Up To 12% on Some Stellaris Evaluation Kits


Fully Integrated Kits Greet Users of 34 Newly Announced Integrated Communications and High Pin Count, Low Power Stellaris MCUs

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ - Luminary Micro (http://www.luminarymicro.com/), creators of the award-winning Stellaris(R) family of ARM Cortex(TM)-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs), today announced the immediate availability of two new Stellaris Evaluation Kits, along with a 12% price reduction on two other Stellaris Evaluation Kits. Designed for the new classes of Stellaris integrated communication MCUs and high pin count, low power MCUs, these compact and versatile evaluation kits take advantage of the capabilities of the new Stellaris microcontrollers with more memory, more GPIOs, enhanced power management, and the addition of combined integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC and PHY and CAN communications. In addition, pricing has been reduced on the Stellaris Evaluation Kits that support the LM3S2000 series of CAN-connected MCUs and the LM3S6000 series of integrated Ethernet MCUs.

Evaluation Kits Have Developers Up and Running in 10 Minutes Or Less

Each feature-rich evaluation kit includes evaluation boards, all required cables, a choice of evaluation tools suites for popular development tools, documentation, the Stellaris Peripheral Driver Library (providing a royalty-free, convenient, no-hassle method of initializing, programming, and controlling peripherals), source code for example applications, applications notes, and everything a developer needs to get up and running in 10 minutes or less, for a superb "out-of-the-box" experience. Both kits span the design spectrum from evaluation to prototyping to application-specific design by functioning both as an evaluation platform and as a serial in-circuit debug interface for any Stellaris microcontroller-based target board. Each kit also provides labeled breakout pads for all Stellaris MCU I/O; a 128 x 64 pixel 4-bit monochromatic OLED graphics display; user LED, navigation switches, and select push buttons; a magnetic speaker; USB cable (power and debug) for simple set-up; standard ARM(R) 20-pin JTAG debug connector with input and output modes; and a Stellaris CD packed with datasheets, schematics, applications notes, and programming examples.

Evaluation tools suite choices include ARM RealView(R) Microcontroller Development kit (MDK-ARM), IAR Embedded Workbench(R) KickStart Edition, and CodeSourcery Sourcery G++(TM) GNU tools. In addition, the kits can also be used with popular debug emulators such as the ARM ULINK or IAR JLINK, enabling rapid debug and development with fast download speeds. Free downloads of ported demos of Real Time Operating Systems (RTOSes) and demo communications stacks are available on the product page for each kit version on Luminary Micro's web site.

ARM RealView Microcontroller Development Kit Tools: a Popular Option

Each Stellaris Evaluation Kit provides an evaluation tool suite choice for an evaluation copy of the ARM RealView Microcontroller Development Kit (MDK) software, limited to 16K code size. The RealView MDK includes the ARM RealView C/C++ Compiler, Assembler, and Linker, the Keil(TM) uVision IDE, Stellaris- aware Debugger and Simulator, together with examples and templates and the RTX real-time kernel. In addition, ported demos of RTOSes include FreeRTOS.org(TM), Express Logic ThreadX(R), CMX Systems CMX-RTX(TM), Keil RTX, and SEGGER embOS. For kits that include embedded Ethernet capabilities, Ethernet stacks available include open source lwIP; Express Logic NetX(TM) TCP/IP; InterNiche TCP/IP NicheStack(TM), NicheLITE(TM), and add-on modules such as HTTP, SNMP, and security protocols; CMX Systems CMX-MicroNet(TM); FreeRTOS.org-based open source uIP stack; and RTA Automation EtherNET/IP(TM). For kits that include hardware-assist IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol support, the open source 1588 PTPd stack has been ported for use with FreeRTOS.org RTOS. For kits that include embedded CAN communications, CAN stacks available include CMX Systems CMX-CANopen(TM) and RTA Automation CANopen and DeviceNet(TM).

IAR Embedded Workbench Tools: a 32KB KickStart Edition

The IAR Embedded Workbench is a powerful set of essential build and debug tools for embedded projects using both C and C++. The KickStart Edition allows projects of up to 32KB code size, enabling users to seriously evaluate the performance and capabilities of the new real-time communications-enhanced Stellaris microcontrollers. In addition, ported demos of RTOSes include FreeRTOS.org, Micrium uC/OS-II with uC/Probe embedded system monitoring, CMX Systems CMX-RTX, IAR PowerPac(TM), and SEGGER embOS. For kits that include embedded Ethernet capabilities, Ethernet stacks available include open source lwIP; Micrium uC/TCP-IP and uC/Modbus; InterNiche TCP/IP NicheStack, NicheLITE, and add-on modules such as HTTP, SNMP, and security protocols; CMX Systems CMX-MicroNet; FreeRTOS.org-based open source uIP stack; and RTA Automation EtherNET/IP. For kits that include hardware-assist IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol support, the open source 1588 PTPd stack has been ported for use with FreeRTOS.org RTOS. For kits that include embedded CAN communications, CAN stacks available include Micrium uC/CAN; CMX Systems CMX- CANopen and RTA Automation CANopen and DeviceNet.

CodeSourcery Sourcery G++ GNU Toolchain Features a Cost-Effective Personal Edition

In partnership with ARM, Ltd., CodeSourcery develops improvements to the GNU Toolchain for ARM processors and provides regular, validated releases of the GNU Toolchain. The CodeSourcery version of Stellaris Evaluation Kits include a 30-day evaluation version of the Sourcery G++ toolchain, which provides an integrated development environment, the GNU Toolchain, and hardware debug support for the entire Stellaris family of microcontrollers. A fully-capable Personal Edition license is available for just $199. Ported demos of RTOSes include FreeRTOS.org. For kits that include embedded Ethernet capabilities, Ethernet stacks available include open source lwIP; InterNiche TCP/IP NicheStack, NicheLITE, and add-on modules such as HTTP, SNMP, and security protocols; and FreeRTOS.org-based open source uIP stack. For kits that include hardware-assist IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol support, the open source 1588 PTPd stack has been ported for use with FreeRTOS.org RTOS.

Stellaris LM3S8962 Evaluation Kit: Fully Integrated 10/100 Embedded Ethernet with CAN Controllers

The Stellaris LM3S8962 Ethernet+CAN Evaluation Kit is exceptional for its compactness and versatility, providing a convenient platform for evaluating and developing internetworking applications. The kit includes an out-of-the- box quickstart application with both an embedded web server utilizing the open source lwIP TCP/IP stack and CAN communication with a provided secondary CAN board based on the LM3S2110 entry-level CAN MCU. In addition to the kit features listed above, each Stellaris LM3S8962 Ethernet+CAN Evaluation Kit contains:

- EVB-LM3S8962 Evaluation Board with 50MHz LM3S8962 (fully integrated
10/100 embedded Ethernet controller with integrated CAN controller,
256K flash, 64K SRAM)
- EVB-LM3S2110 Evaluation Board with 25MHz LM3S2110 (fully integrated CAN
controller, 64K flash, 16K SRAM)
- MicroSD card slot
- Retractable Ethernet cable
- CAN network cable to connect the two boards

Stellaris LM3S1968 Evaluation Kit Features Battery-Backed Hibernation

The Stellaris LM3S1968 Evaluation Kit provides a convenient platform for evaluating and developing with Stellaris high pin count real-time MCUs with battery-backed hibernation. The kit includes a quickstart application that uses hibernation mode to keep track of game high scores between power-ups. In addition to the kit features listed above, each Stellaris LM3S1968 Evaluation Kit contains:

- EVB-LM3S1968 Evaluation Board with 50MHz LM3S1968 (256K flash, 64K
SRAM, battery-backed hibernation, 8 ADCs, 2 Quadrature Encoder Inputs,
and up to 52 GPIOs)
- CR2032 battery slot with battery

Price Reductions on LM3S6965 Ethernet Evaluation Kit and LM3S2965 CAN Evaluation Kit

Luminary Micro has also reduced prices on selected Stellaris Evaluation Kits. Pricing on the LM3S6965 Ethernet Evaluation Kit has been reduced from $79 USD to $69 USD. Featuring fully integrated 10/100 Ethernet capability and including two examples of an embedded web-server demonstration application, the LM3S6965 Ethernet Evaluation Kit is ideal for developers creating embedded applications with Ethernet communications.

The LM3S2965 CAN Evaluation Kit, featuring a complete CAN network right out-of-the-box, is now available for just $79 USD, a 12% reduction in price. The LM3S2965 CAN Evaluation Kit includes two separate CAN networking boards to provide working examples of CAN packet transmission and receipt right out-of- the-box.

Stellaris Evaluation Kits Ordering and Availability

All of these Stellaris Evaluation Kits are available now through Luminary Micro's global sales channel (http://www.luminarymicro.com/sales) and online:

- US $59 - Stellaris LM3S1968 Evaluation Kit - buy online at
http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/lm3s1968_evaluation_kit.html
- US $69 - Stellaris LM3S6965 Ethernet Evaluation Kit - buy online at
http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/lm3s6965_evaluation_kit.html
- US $79 - Stellaris LM3S2965 CAN Evaluation Kit - buy online at
http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/lm3s2965_evaluation_kit.html
- US $89 - Stellaris LM3S8962 Ethernet+CAN Evaluation Kit - buy online at
http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/lm3s8962_evaluation_kit.html

The Stellaris family of microcontrollers currently contains 85 real-time microcontrollers targeted at embedded and industrial applications, such as motion control, fire and security, remote sensing, HVAC and building controls, power and energy monitoring and conversion, network appliances and switches, factory automation, electronic point-of-sale machines, test and measurement equipment, medical instrumentation, and gaming equipment.

About Luminary Micro and Stellaris

Luminary Micro, Inc. designs, markets and sells ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs). Austin, Texas-based Luminary Micro is the lead partner for the Cortex-M3 processor, delivering the world's first silicon implementation of the Cortex-M3 processor. Developed for use in embedded and industrial applications, Luminary Micro's introduction of the award-winning Stellaris(R) family of products provides 32-bit performance for the same price as current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs. With entry-level pricing at $1.00 for an ARM technology-based MCU, Luminary Micro's Stellaris product line allows for standardization that eliminates future architectural upgrades or software tools changes. Contact the company at 1-512-279-8800 or email press@luminarymicro.com for more information.

Stellaris is a registered trademark and the Luminary Micro logo is a trademark of Luminary Micro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.

Luminary Micro Company Contact:

Jean Anne Booth/CMO/+1.512.917.3088 mobile/+1.512.279.8801 office/JeanAnne.Booth@LuminaryMicro.com

CONTACT: Jean Anne Booth, CMO of Luminary Micro, +1-512-279-8801, mobile, +1-512-917-3088, JeanAnne.Booth@LuminaryMicro.com

Web site: http://www.luminarymicro.com/

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