Franklin Unveils Proprietary RISC Processor AUGUST 28, 1997 BY EDN Burlington, N.J.–Aug. 27–Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc. (Burlington, N.J.) announced its ES-1 microprocessor, a proprietary 8/24 bit pipeline RISC CPU, designed for efficient high-level code execution and low cost. The new micro uses cutting edge CPU design techniques to allow for a quantum leap in performance at the 8-bit price level. The 24-bit general purpose registers of the ES-1 allow for efficient high-level code generation. A 24-bit address bus supports direct accessing of up to 16 Mbytes of data as required in large database applications. Several new techniques for which Franklin has patent applications in progress are employed to allow the CPU to implement more than the normally available 256 basic instructions with 8-bit opcodes. ES-1 instructions deal efficiently with 8-, 16-, 24-, 32-, and 48-bit data. Hardware multiply and barrel shifting significantly increase the performance of the chip, and CPU cache has been made available as an option. The ES-1 was designed concurrently with the development of a Franklin C language compiler so that the instruction set was fine tuned for optimized performance running compiled code. Franklin's compiler and a suite of sophisticated development tools allow all aspects of embedded software development for the ES-1 to be accomplished using only C code. Small code size and fast program execution can be achieved without any need to resort to assembly level coding. A GUI source level debugger is also available in the Franklin tool kit, further speeding Franklin's (or a third party's) software development. The ES-1's designers achieved backwards compatibility with existing BOOKMAN ROM cards by adding special instructions and features to allow for efficient emulation of the 65C02 microprocessor, the CPU used in Franklin's first generation BOOKMAN products. The ES-1 has been implemented in a new system ASIC which provides Franklin with a low-cost, integrated solution for its new products even as it allows for a standard interface between the ES-1 and the outside world. This interface includes prioritized interrupt, keyboard and LCD controllers, an IRDA capable serial port, real time clock (with alarm) function, and audio digital to analog convertor. A higher level version of the ES-1 ASIC adds specialized DSP functions for high-quality speech decompression. The ES-1 microprocessor and ASICs are available from Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc. Franklin Electronic Publishers Barry J. Lipsky Burlinton, NJ (609) 386-2500 barry_lipsky@franklin.com http://www.franklin.com