Grenoble, France, March 13, 2009 - Offering to 8051 software developers a complete set of debugging features - unlimited watchpoints, unlimited breakpoints, unlimited trace memory depth, etc - at practically no silicon expense is achievable with the patented solution of Virtual Clone. Its extremely low-cost Virtual Clone debugger is now proposed with the Flip80251 Typhoon, the new generation of 8051 upward compatible 16-bit microcontroller core.

The Virtual Clone package consists in a simple USB to JTAG adaptor which links a popular Software Development Kit running on a PC with the FPGA or the SoC embedding the 16-bit Flip80251 Typhoon and its unique "Processor Open Clone", the POC peripheral.

"The POC squeezes into the SoC such a small silicon area, less than 0.012 mm2 at 0.18 µm," explains Aurélie DESCOMBES, Product Manager for Microcontrollers at Dolphin, "that emulation and debugging features can be maintained inside without impacting its fabrication cost." In the case of a mixed signal SoC, such a flexibility is appraised by developers of software application: they can debug their program in the real SoC environment, i.e. with all analog peripherals active.

SoC integrators looking for a powerful and low-power core truly increasing the competitiveness of their SoC, can now benefit from a double chance: ultra small silicon area with a full and powerful set of debugging features.

For more data on the Virtual Clone and the set of debugging features, click here or contact Aurélie Descombes: Email Contact