The Processor Expert (PE) Automatic Code Generator for National Semiconductor COP8 microcontrollers provides an integrated development environment (IDE) for rapid code development.

Processor Expert Features:

• Automatic Code Generator
• Code Library Manager
• Debugger
• Code Simulator
• Large library of fully retargetable code
• Powerful Graphical Intergrated Development Environment for easy drag & drop selection and configuration of code modules, view of used microcontroller resources, and code editing and generation.
• Extensive help (more than 250 pages) and tutorial
• Preserves user written code versus Processor Expert generated code.

• Shorten the design and learning phase
• Minimize debug time by using PE's fully tested software library
• Reduce design time and cost
• Rapidly adopt code to last minute design changes

Automatic Code Generator

Processor Expert (PE) has built-in expert knowledge of the CPU, all the on-chip peripherals and all possible hardware settings of your selected micro. This built-in knowledge about possible hardware settings accelerates your learning curve for a new microcontroller and guarantees correct hardware initialization code.

The PE automatic code generator uses a concept called "Embedded Beans" to implement a given task. Embedded Beans encapsulate the functionality of basic elements of embedded systems like on-chip peripherals, standalone peripherals, virtual devices, and pure software algorithms. An embedded bean is best compared to an object in C++ or a bean in Java. A bean is fully configurable and can be easily retargeted to different microcontroller derivatives and clock frequencies with a few mouse clicks. Embedded Beans are well tested software routines and that is why they can save months of work of an expert programmer.

Processor Expert comes with a large selection of embedded beans that generate code for all of a supported microcontroller's on-chip peripheral functions. The UART bean, for example, "knows" how to calculate a specific baud rate for an on-chip UART. All you have to do is to specify the desired output result – what baud rate and transmission parameters (number of data bits, stop bits, parity), push a button and you' re done "writing" the code for you desired UART functionality.

Quickly Retarget Code to Accommodate Design Changes

The power of embedded beans and Processor Expert lies in the retargetability of the generated code for different derivatives or clock frequencies. Let's say for example, you developed your code for a 5MHz microcontroller clock. Later on in your project you realize that you run out of steam and need more speed, so you change clock speed to 8MHz. If you developed your code the traditional way, you will now have to do a lot of changes and testing to get all the timings right again (internal timers, UART transmission speed, etc.). If you used the PE tool, it's as simple as entering the new frequency and pressing the "make code" button- now you've just "speeded up your design" in two ways.

Virtual Peripherals

Code Library Manager

Processor Expert comes with a tool called "Bean Inspector" that allows you to create your own embedded beans and thus add to the already large library of exisiting funtional blocks. Any funtion you can envision can be defined as an embedded bean, providing you with a powerful tool to implement the most complex functions as reusable and retargetable code.

Integrated Development Environment

The IDE's Microprocessor View provides you with a graphical image of your microcontroller's actual pinout and package. It shows which code modules or external peripherals are connected to which pins. The package can be rotated, so that you can have on screen what you have on board for easier orientation.

You can drag & drop embedded beans to free pins in microprocessor view to connect them with those pin. Pins that have fixed functionality, like a UART's transmit or receive pin, are automatically connected by PE when you add the UART bean to your project.

The IDE also features an integrated code editor, debugger and simulator. You can easily add your own code (for example event handlers) to supplement the automatically generated code, then recompile the code, debug and test it with the simulator without ever leaving the Processor Expert Environment.

System Requirements

• PC with an Intel Pentium class processor or higher
• Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or higher
• 48MB RAM
• 30MB free hard disk space
• CD-ROM drive (for installation only)
• Super VGA monitor; 800x600 display, 256 colors. Recommended: 1024x768, 64K colors.
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Supported COP8 Microcontrollers

• COP8SBR9L, COP8SBR9H, COP8SBR9HLQ, COP8SBR9I, COP8SBR9K (COP8 SBR/SCR/SDR derivatives)
• COP8CBR9L, COP8CBR9H, COP8CBR9HLQ, COP8CBR9I, COP8CBR9K (COP8 CBR/CCR/CDR derivatives)
• COP8CBC9H, COP8CBC9I, COP8CBC9HLQ (COP8 CBC/CCC/CDC derivatives)
• COP8CBE9H, COP8CBE9I, COP8CBE9HLQ (COP8 CBE/CCE/CDE derivatives)
• COP8CFC9H, COP8CFC9I, COP8CFC9HLQ (COP8 CFC/CFE derivatives)
• COP8AJC7B, COP8AJC7C, COP8AJC7E (COP8 AJC/AKC derivatives)
• COP8AME9E (COP8 AME/ANE derivatives)
• COP8SAAx16, COP8SAAx20, COP8SAAx28, COP8SAAx40, COP8SAAx44, COP8SAAxSLB, COP8SAAxVEJ (COP8 SAA/SAB/SAC derivatives)
• COP8SGRx28, COP8SGRx40, COP8SGRx44, COP8SGRxVEJ, COP8SGRxHLQ (COP8 SGR/SGE/SGG/SGH/SGK derivatives)

Supported COP8 Compilers

Download a trial version of COP8 Processor Expert (35.3MB!)

Download the COP8 Processor Expert User Guide (PDF, 125kB)