Unison Ultra Tiny Linux OS Now Available for Actel SmartFusion Devices

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Actel Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTL) and RoweBots today announced the immediate availability of Unison, an ultra tiny Linux® compatible OS for SmartFusion™ devices. Developers now have the option for Linux-based embedded design when using SmartFusion intelligent mixed signal FPGAs. With continued broadening of its ecosystem, Actel continues to provide ease of adoption of SmartFusion devices for embedded designers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100819/SF52638)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100819/SF52638)

"Our ability to offer a Linux-compliant OS opens the door for a whole new range of SmartFusion designers," said Wendy Lockhart, senior manager, design solutions marketing and training at Actel. "These designers now have access not only to a Linux operating system but an OS that has a modular memory so they can further reduce the memory footprint."

Unison consists of a set of modular software components, which, like Linux, are either FREE or commercially licensed.  Full Linux implementations require a CPU with a memory management unit (MMU), embedded Linux does not require an MMU but has a large memory footprint, Unison offers POSIX and Linux compatibility with hard real-time performance, complete I/O modules, small memory footprint and an easily understood environment for device driver programming.  Seamless integration with FPGA and analog features are fast and easy.

Unison comes with 30+ demonstration programs that work out of the box in 10 minutes with SoftConsole.  

All Unison versions are strictly tested with standardized POSIX test suites along with additional testing, development and management approaches, making them the highest reliability, standards based ultra tiny OS available.

In addition, join Actel and RoweBots for a live webinar introducing RoweBots Ultra Tiny Linux OS with Actel SmartFusion intelligent mixed signal FPGAs. Attendees will learn how the Unison ultra tiny Linux operating system, with an ultra tiny modular memory footprint, supports the SmartFusion with embedded ARM® Cortex™-M3 device with as little as 1K of RAM and 6K of flash.

Pricing and Availability

Unison 4 is FREE and downloadable from Actel for commercial use and includes basic features, documentation, a serial I/O package and a file system.  Various upgrades for source code, documentation and networking are available for Unison 4. Unison 5 may be purchased from RoweBots and provides a fully supported commercial version with an extensive feature set, numerous add on modules, royalty free licenses, source code, extensive documentation, maintenance, consulting support and 30 plus demos that run out of the box in 10 minutes.

Datasheets and an evaluation version can be downloaded from www.actel.com/products/partners/solution/ip/rowebots.aspx

About RoweBots

RoweBots is developing the next generation of modular ultra tiny embedded Linux software for embedded OEM applications in the areas of consumer goods, clean technology, portable products, communications and robotics electronics using system on chip.  The company is based in Waterloo, Canada.  For more information, visit the RoweBots website www.rowebots.com.

About Actel

Actel is the leader in low power FPGAs and mixed signal FPGAs, offering the most comprehensive portfolio of system and power management solutions. Power Matters. Learn more at www.actel.com.

Actel, Actel Fusion, IGLOO, Libero, Pigeon Point, ProASIC, SmartFusion and the associated logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Actel Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Actel Corporation

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