science

Parallax SX

Parallax SX is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Parallax SX rather than just read about it. In short: Parallax SX is a discontinued line of microcontrollers that was marketed by Parallax, from a design by Ubicom. Designed to be architecturally similar to the PIC microcontrollers used in the original versions of the BASIC Stamp, SX microcontrollers replaced the PIC in several subsequent versions of that product.

Key takeaways

Parallax SX belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Parallax SX to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Parallax SX from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Parallax SX is a discontinued line of microcontrollers that was marketed by Parallax, from a design by Ubicom. Designed to be architecturally similar to the PIC microcontrollers used in the original versions of the BASIC Stamp, SX microcontrollers replaced the PIC in several subsequent versions of that product.

Production The designs for the devices are owned by Ubicom (formerly Scenix, hence "SX"). The SX dies were manufactured by UbiCom, who sent them to Parallax for packaging. Ubicom had made processors with 18, 20, 28, 48 and 52 pins, but because Parallax did not have packages for 18 and 52 pins chips, the SX-18 and SX-52 were discontinued.

End-of-life On July 31, 2009, Parallax announced that the SX line had reached its production EOL (End-of-Life) as Ubicom would no longer be manufacturing dies based on the designs; after the supplies from the final "lifetime buy" have been exhausted, the associated products cannot be restocked. In the same announcement, Parallax expressed that availability of its own products based on SX devices would not be impacted and that technical support would remain available.

Technical details The Parallax's SX series microcontrollers are 8-bit RISC microcontrollers (using a 12-bit instruction word) which have an unusually high speed, up to 75 MHz (75 MIPS), and a high degree of flexibility. They include up to 4096 12-bit words of Flash memory and up to 262 bytes of random-access memory (RAM), an eight bit counter and other support logic. They are especially geared toward the emulation of I/O hardware in software, which makes them very flexible. While Parallax's SX micros are limited in variety, their high-speed and additional resources allow programmers to create 'virtual devices', including complete video controllers, as required. For example, there are software library modules to emulate I2C and SPI interfaces, UARTs, frequency generators, measurement counters and PWM and sigma-delta A/D converters. Other interfaces are relatively easy to write, and existing modules can be modified to get new features.

Development and debugging The Sx-Key is produced by Parallax and used to program the SX microcontroller and then debug it. There is also a cheaper version called the SX-Blitz that does not contain a debugger. Do note that there are two Sx-key products, one is an actual hardware device the other is the software, they share the same name.

Windows If you are running on the Microsoft Windows platform, you would want to grab a copy of the SX Key software from Parallax's website. It contains many useful tools for beginners as well as for people more familiar with the SX to aid in development. It comes with the SXsim, and an assembler/programmer to allow programming of the SX using either an SX Key or SX Blitz.

Issues There are some known issues with the SX Key software on Windows Vista, the Sx-key software requires certain DLLs that are not distributed with Windows Vista.

Alternate tools There is also a C to SX compiler, that will allow you to write C programs for the SX. They are then converted from C into SX ASM. There are two versions available.

CCS SX/C There is a commercially supported version of a C compiler for the SX, it is known as the CCS SX/C, and was available for $199.0. This software is officially supported by Parallax, and they have a partnership to work together on making the SX/C compiler a first class citizen. It integrates with the SX Key software to then program the SX.

C4SX C4SX is a free C to SX assembly compiler that is available from rwsenser. Please note that this software is untested by Parallax. There is a thread in the Parallax support forums about C4SX that might be helpful to those looking at using C for the SX.

Linux/Unix-based development

gsasm gsasm is an assembler for the SX assembly to a hex file. The project lives on SourceForge and can be found at https://sourceforge.net/projects/gsasm/. Note, it is still in its infancy, and while it produces proper hex files to be programmed, it has its rough edges and limitations. Please read the release notes, and see if a more applicable solution would not be to use Wine.

gSXprog gSXprog is the programmer that may be used to program the SX using the SX Key revision C and older. Code exists to program with the SX Blitz in CVS, but it is not guaranteed to work. If you downloaded gsasm you will have also obtained a copy of gSXprog. You will be able to use gSXprog to program the SX using a hex file produced by gsasm or from the SX Key software.

Wine The SX chip can be programmed with the SX Key software, gSXprog, and SXsim. SX Key Software has been reported to work well under Wine (a Windows compatibility layer for Linux platforms).

See also Parallax Propeller, a newer microcontroller and the current target of new product development by Parallax

External links SX microcontroller page at Parallax

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Parallax SX

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Parallax SX claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Parallax SX before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Parallax SX ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Parallax SX

In research: Parallax SX appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Parallax SX in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Parallax SX is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Microchip Technology hardware, Microcontrollers, Parallax, Inc. products, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Parallax SX outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Parallax SX” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Parallax SX in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Parallax SX means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Parallax SX out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Parallax SX in simple terms?

Why does Parallax SX matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Parallax SX?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Parallax SX.