Core modules

Dominion Electronics has released Rabbit Semiconductors' Power-Core family of microprocessor core modules, designed to facilitate rapid development and implementation of embedded systems.

PowerCores are powered by 8 bit Rabbit microprocessors with integrated features and a C-friendly instruction set designed for use with the Dynamic C development system.

They mount on a user-designed motherboard and act as the controlling microprocessor for the user's system. Onboard power supplies can also provide power to the motherboard.

With available onboard power supply, analog features and the fastest Rabbi 3000 microprocessor, the PowerCore is claimed to bridge the gap between microcontrollers and single board computers.

Created specifically to reduce the effort required to build embedded control applications, the device is available with 1 MB flash, 1 MB SRAM, and 1 MB serial flash as well as five serial ports, 39 I/O, real-time clock and ethernet.

Onboard analog features include a ramp generator that, coupled with inexpensive comparators and the pulse capture capabilities of the Rabbit 3000 microprocessor, allows measurement of analog voltages for applications such as temperature using the onboard thermistor.

In addition, onboard AC crossover detection is available for triac applications.

The ethernet port frees designers from the limitations of serial-port communications and control and also permits instant local or worldwide connectivity using low-cost networking hardware.

Embedded systems using the ethernet RabbitCore module can be controlled and monitored (as well as programmed and debugged when using appropriate accessory hardware) across any network or the internet.