A new version of Nucleus, called Nucleus USB, provides Universal Serial Bus (USB) support for the popular real-time operating system (RTOS). This combination of real-time software promises to make it easier for developers to create embedded systems that communicate over USB.

The Nucleus USB family consists of embedded software to do the following: host (or connect to) various USB devices, create USB devices, and drive USB hardware controllers. The family also includes optional USB-compliant class drivers. These drivers provide out-of-the-box solutions for common application requirements. With them, designers can quickly create standard USB devices. The drivers also can be used to immediately integrate existing standard commercial devices—such as hard drives, printers, and many other off-the-shelf USB devices—into embedded systems without additional programming.

In the instance that a custom class driver is required, its creation is easy and straightforward. As a result, designers can meet specific application requirements. Or, they can simply upgrade legacy communication schemes to leverage USB's simplicity, ubiquity, and cost effectiveness.

Nucleus USB contains both host and device components. The Nucleus USB Host is used to develop embedded systems that have USB devices plugged into them. Among such devices are set-top boxes, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, instrumentation, game consoles, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). In contrast, developers can use Nucleus USB Device to build USB devices that plug into these hosts. This line-up of hosts might include joysticks; cameras; scanners and printers; hard drives and other storage media; routers and other communications devices; and PDAs, phones, and music players.

Nucleus USB is a complete, fast, small, and portable RTOS. It takes advantage of Nucleus services and runs on any system supported by Nucleus PLUS. Drivers will soon be available for additional Nucleus components, including Nucleus NET, Nucleus FILE, and Nucleus GRAFIX.

Accelerated Technology ESD of Mentor Graphics
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