Ramtron International will offer a universal serial bus (USB) interface for in-circuit programming/debugging with its Versa 8051 microcontroller development tools. The VJTAG-USB, a USB-based JTAG interface, will ship with the VersaKit-30xx, a complete evaluation platform that facilitates system prototyping and design development with Ramtron’s MCUs – the VRS51L2070 and the FRAM-Enhanced VRS51L3074. The USB board will enable device programming and in-circuit debugging. It functions on Windows-based computers with a USB interface capability and can be used independently of the VersaKit devboard to program Ramtron MCUs installed on other target hardware. The VersaKit-30xx includes a development board with VRS51L3074 device; VJTAG-USB in-circuit programming/debugging interface; a USB cable; and a power supply.

The development board incorporates a set of probe vias and header footprints for access to chip peripherals and I/Os; an RS-232 transceiver and two DB9 connectors for UART access; eight user LEDs; two tact switches for manual reset/interrupt triggering; ample prototyping space; and a JTAG access for in-circuit programming and real-time debugging of the VRS51L2070/3074. For evaluation of Ramtron’s FRAM memory devices, the board also features an FM31256 Processor Companion, an FM25CL64 (serial SPI FRAM) and an FM24CL64 (serial I²C FRAM). Ramtron programming and debugging software is provided free with the VersaKit-30xx.