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Cypress launches new IDE 5.4 for its PSoC chips

Date: 21/05/2013
Cypress Semiconductor has introduced PSoC Designer 5.4, a new version of its Integrated Design Environment (IDE) for the PSoC 1 Programmable System-on-Chip architecture. The new version includes over 40 new or enhanced User Modules, which are free “Virtual Chips,” represented by an icon, that are used to integrate multiple ICs and system interfaces into a single PSoC device. Version 5.4 also offers multiple new features to make designing with PSoC faster and easier, including an Auto-Complete feature that automatically suggests variables, functions, and keywords as users type. The version marks another significant first for PSoC Designer, as it now allows customers to create their own User Modules, with complete control over the hardware, firmware, and graphical user interface.

Version 5.4 includes three new SmartSense User Modules that simplify usage of Cypress’s industry-leading CapSense capacitive touch-sensing technology. The new SmartSense2X_EMC User Module supports both the CY8C2xx45 and CY8C28xxx PSoC 1 families. SmartSense2X_EMC not only saves time by automatically tuning capacitive sensors and dynamically adjusting the tuning during operation, it also increases end-systems’ immunity to electromagnetic interference, providing the ability to operate in high-noise environments. This functionality is ideal for home appliances and a broad range of additional markets.

“PSoC Designer now makes it easier than ever to integrate sophisticated functionality in embedded designs, including Cypress’s world-class CapSense capacitive touch controls,” said Kapil Rai, Senior Director of PSoC 1 Products for Cypress. “Version 5.4 opens up a new world of designs by giving engineers the power to create their own User Modules and take full advantage of PSoC’s flexibility.”

Other key new user modules include a programmable current source and a scanning successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). Instead of having to manually configure the hardware and firmware, users can simply drag and drop the scanning SAR ADC into their design to have it automatically measure voltages on any number of inputs. Users can download PSoC Designer 5.4 free of charge at www.cypress.com/psocdesigner.

User Modules can be dragged and dropped as icons into a design using PSoC Designer’s graphical user interface. They are pre-tested and pre-characterized, and each comes with a datasheet that designers can use to customize the functionality for their specific designs. PSoC Designer 5.4 includes more than 160 of these User Modules, making designing with PSoC 1 devices fast and easy. In addition, PSoC Designer 5.4 boosts engineering efficiency through design re-use by enabling engineers to develop their own User Modules containing their own unique hardware and firmware IP. Designers can also create a customized graphical user interface to configure their User Modules.

PSoC Designer 5.4 contains 15 new example projects that show users how to build a wide array of PSoC systems. This version also includes a new graphical interface that makes it easier for users to sort and filter these example projects to find those of interest.

Source: Cypress Semiconductor