.NET Micro Framework Ports to Blackfin - Microsoft & Analog Devices

Microsoft and Analog Devices recently announced the porting of the Microsoft.NET Micro Framework to Blackfin processors. Developers of will be able to use Microsoft's .NET and Visual Studio, with the Analog Devices’ Blackfin processor, speeding the design of small-footprint, low-power embedded systems.

The .NET Micro Framework software development kit (SDK) comes equipped with an extensible emulator to simulate targeted hardware capabilities. The framework enables device developers to connect diverse hardware solutions to virtually any peripheral device through industry-standard communication connections and custom-managed drivers.

Colin Miller, .NET Micro Framework at Microsoft, said:

The .NET Micro Framework was created from the ground up as a .NET solution for small embedded devices from industrial sensors and instrumentation to home automation systems and healthcare monitors…

The addition of Analog Devices' Blackfin to the .NET Micro Framework fold will make high-performance, low-power digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities accessible to developers, using the world-class development tools of Visual Studio…

Analog Devices Supports .NET Micro Framework
Analog Devices' Blackfin processors combine high performance, power efficiency and system integration to enable highly optimized embedded designs without compromise. With power consumption as low as 0.16 mW/MHz (at 250 MHz) and performance up to 600 MHz, applications can add greater signal-processing performance without sacrificing battery life.

Analog Devices also plans to complement the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework SDK with additional development tools for Blackfin developers. The company will announce details as the tools become available.

Jerry McGuire, General Purpose DSP Group at Analog Devices, stated:

We are pleased that Blackfin will be the first DSP in Microsoft's .NET Micro Framework sphere…

Developers will be able to work with Microsoft development tools to implement feature-rich products on Blackfin, with the power efficiency, performance level and system cost that is right for compact embedded applications. For example, one of the exciting possibilities is using Windows SideShow to display information on mobile PCs and portable electronic devices such as media players, even when those devices are in sleep mode…

The Blackfin family offers the functionality of both a 16-bit DSP and a 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) in a unified architecture that handles control-oriented tasks as well as real-time processing of multimedia data flows. System integration includes integrated peripheral options such as high-speed USB On-The-Go (OTG). Blackfin Lockbox Secure Technology, a combination of hardware and software mechanisms, lets developers implement security measures to protect code as well as content.

More info: .NET Micro Framework