For Immediate Release

Corelis Introduces High-Performance JTAG Emulators
for the ARC’s Tangent Processors

The new ScanICE-ARC and NetICE-ARC JTAG emulators are the first
 to provide customers with a very powerful, yet cost effective
 PC-based development tool for configurable processors.

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Cerritos, CA, February 19, 2001 -- Corelis Inc., today unveiled two new emulators for ARC Cores (LSE:ARK) high-performance processor family.  The new ScanICE-ARC and the NetICE-ARC emulators utilize the standard JTAG port on ARC’s Tangent processor to provide access to its unique on-chip debug facilities.  Both emulators include the powerful MetaWare WindowsTM 95/98/NT/2000 compatible SeeCodeTM source-level debugger.  For JTAG emulation access, the ScanICE-ARC uses a PCI bus JTAG controller that is installed in a PC, and the NetICE-ARC uses a LAN-based (Ethernet) JTAG controller.

Unlike conventional real-time emulators that rely on bulky and expensive external hardware pods, the Corelis emulators use the JTAG standard test access port to access the internal debug resources available on ARC’s Tangent processor.  This eliminates the need for external pods, thus reducing the cost and electrical loading of the target system.  Since the debug resources used by the emulator are integrated on the target processor, the emulator automatically supports any clock speed at which the target system runs. In addition to these benefits, the use of the JTAG interface also ensures that processor access is maintained even when the user’s software 'hangs' or otherwise runs out of control. 

Programs and data can be downloaded to any part of the system RAM through the JTAG port without the need for a resident loader program or a ROM emulator. The standard four-wire JTAG interface allows it to be connected to ARC’s processor, and any future processor developed by ARC. Thus, switching processors from one design to the next does not obsolete a user's investment in their emulator hardware.

As an additional benefit, each of the JTAG controllers, can be used to provide boundary-scan interconnect testing and in-system programming (ISP) of Flash devices and CPLDs using Corelis ScanPlus optional boundary-scan test and ISP software.

Phil Barnard, Product Manager for Development Tools at ARC Cores, said, "Corelis brings to ARC’s platform solution a wealth of experience with high-performance JTAG emulation and low-cost development tools, and will help us support customers that prefer working with high-performance PC-based JTAG development tools." Phil Barnard added: “Corelis, by providing the option to expand their JTAG emulators for ARC’s cores with boundary-scan test and in-system programming, will dramatically reduce our customers overall prototype debug time and time to market.”

"The introduction of the ScanICE-ARC and the NetICE-ARC JTAG emulators enable ARC’s Tangent processors to be even more easily integrated into embedded designs and result in products being brought to market much faster", said Menachem Blasberg, President and CEO of Corelis. "Having a fully featured low-cost PC-based development tool with expandability for other ARC processors planned in the future will make it a very cost effective solution for hardware and software developers.”

ARC Cores On-chip debug logic

The ARC on-chip debug capabilities are unique in the embedded market place, and provide three main advantages to the system developer – non-intrusive memory access, no debug firmware required and multi-core debug.

To support real-time debugging, the on-chip logic enables you to examine memory locations without stopping the processor.  Debug operations can be achieved with no resident code running on the CPU, resulting in zero memory overhead for full system debug.  In the case where your SoC design utilizes multiple ARC cores, the ARC Tangent processor provides a mechanism to multiplex a single debug link over multiple processor instantiations, minimizing the number of pins required for debugging.

The ScanICE-ARC and the NetICE-ARC are shipping now.

About Corelis

Corelis Inc., is a world leader in the field of JTAG emulation, boundary-scan testing, JTAG In-System Programming of Flash memories & CPLDs, and microprocessor development tools. Corelis is also a leading system integrator and developer of custom JTAG emulation and test solutions and has successfully integrated and developed systems for customers throughout the world. Corelis is well known for its outstanding customer support.

For more information on Corelis JTAG emulation and boundary-scan test and in-system programming products, and other tools and services, please visit the Corelis web site at www.corelis.com.

About ARC

ARC Cores is a leading designer and developer of customizable, high-performance microprocessor cores and related intellectual property solutions for integrating microprocessors with embedded systems applications.  ARC’s 32-bit RISC processor is an application specific processor, or ASP, which can be customized for use in a wide variety of increasingly sophisticated products, including telecommunications, voice and data networking, and consumer electronics products.  ARC’s technology enables designers to rapidly develop prototype designs for validation of design concepts, to reduce the cycle time between design, development and physical prototype to the launch of a product.

With headquarters in Elstree, England, ARC International plc and its group companies employ over 200 people in research and development, sales, and marketing offices across North America and Europe. MetaWare, Precise Software Technologies and VAutomation are wholly owned subsidiaries of ARC International plc, providing software development tools, hardware and software intellectual property and real time operating systems offering a single source solution when required for system on a chip development. The company’s website is located at www.arccores.com  or phone +44 (0) 20 8236 2800 (UK) or +1 408 360 2120

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation

ARC International (UK) Ltd. and ARC Cores Inc. trade under the name of ARC Cores.

ARC Cores is a trademark of ARC International (UK) Limited.

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