Version 6.0 (R2008b) Simulink® Fixed Point™ Software Release Notes

Version 6.0 (R2008b) Simulink Fixed Point Software

This table summarizes what's new in Version 6.0 (R2008b):

New features and changes introduced in this version are

• Limit of Bits Increased with Embedded MATLAB Function Block

• Limit of Bits Increased with Accelerated Simulation

• Limit of Bits Increased with Code Generation

• Fixed-Point Advisor Enhanced

• Generated Code Enhancement

• Parameter to Lock Output Scaling Added to Six Simulink Blocks

• "What's This?" Context-Sensitive Help Available for Fixed-Point Tool

• Enhanced Support for Stateflow Charts in the Fixed-Point Tool

• Cell Array No Longer Created When Data Logging Is Enabled in the Fixed-Point Tool

• Name Change for Associated Parameters

• Functions Being Removed in a Future Version

Limit of Bits Increased with Embedded MATLAB Function Block

Replacement of Embedded MATLAB™ Function block limit of 32 bits with standard block limit of 128 bits.

Limit of Bits Increased with Accelerated Simulation

Replacement of accelerated simulation limit of 32 bits with normal simulation limit of 128 bits.

Limit of Bits Increased with Code Generation

Replacement of code-generation limit of 32 bits with simulation limit of 128 bits.

Fixed-Point Advisor Enhanced

In R2008b, the Fixed-Point Advisor is enhanced with:

• Improved usability including more descriptive results and intuitive table formatting.

• Improved analysis such as the ability to regenerate simulation data in Create simulation reference data.

• Direct links from the Fixed-Point Advisor to the Fixed-Point Tool for improved analysis after the conversion is complete.

• A system selector that allows you to choose the system level from which to start the Fixed-Point Advisor.

For more information, see Fixed-Point Advisor in the Simulink^® Fixed Point™ documentation.

Generated Code Enhancement

In R2008b, code generation is enhanced to remove excess saturation logic code, reducing RAM and ROM, improving code efficiency.

Parameter to Lock Output Scaling Added to Six Simulink Blocks

For the following Simulink blocks, the dialog box now displays a parameter to lock scaling of outputs against changes by the autoscaling tool:

• Constant

• Data Store Memory

• Inport

• Outport

• Relay

• Signal Specification

For more information about these blocks, see Block Reference in the Simulink Reference.

"What's This?" Context-Sensitive Help Available for Fixed-Point Tool

R2008b introduces "What's This?" context-sensitive help for parameters that appear in the Fixed-Point Tool. This feature provides quick access to a detailed description of the parameters, saving you the time it would take to find the information in the Help browser.

To use the "What's This?" help:

1. Place your cursor over the label of a parameter.

2. Right-click. A What's This? context menu appears.

   For example, the following figure shows the What's This? context menu appearing after right-clicking the Percent safety margin (e.g. 10 for 10%) parameter.

   

3. Click What's This? A context-sensitive help window appears showing a description of the parameter.

Enhanced Support for Stateflow Charts in the Fixed-Point Tool

You can now control the signal logging of a Simulink subsystem placed inside a Stateflow^® chart from the subsystem parent node.

Cell Array No Longer Created When Data Logging Is Enabled in the Fixed-Point Tool

In R2008b, the cell array FixPtSimRanges is no longer created automatically in the MATLAB workspace after simulation of a model where data logging is enabled in the Fixed-Point Tool.

Compatibility Considerations

Previously, simulating a model with logging enabled in the Fixed-Point Tool would store maximum values, minimum values, and overflow data in the workspace variable FixPtSimRanges. In R2008b, this behavior has changed. However, you can still view this information in one of these ways:

• In the Contents pane of the Fixed-Point Tool

• In the MATLAB Command Window by calling the function showfixptsimranges

For example, suppose you have a script as follows:

global FixPtSimRanges
outputMaxForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.MaxValue;
outputMinForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.MinValue;
pathForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.Path;

In R2008b, you must add a line to the script:

global FixPtSimRanges
showfixptsimranges('quiet');
outputMaxForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.MaxValue;
outputMinForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.MinValue;
pathForBlock1 = FixPtSimRanges{1}.Path;

For more information about showfixptsimranges, see Function Reference in the Simulink Fixed Point User's Guide.

Name Change for Associated Parameters

The Associated parameters in the Autoscale Information dialog box are now Model-Required parameters. Specifically, the Shared Associated Parameter Initial Value Max parameter is now Shared Model-Required Maximum and Associated Parameter Initial Value Max is Model-Required Maximum. The names of the minimum values have changed in the same manner. For more information, see Reviewing Scaling Proposals in the Simulink Fixed Point documentation.

Functions Being Removed in a Future Version

These functions will be removed in a future version of Simulink Fixed Point software.

Simulink Fixed Point Release Notes

Version 5.6 (R2008a) Simulink Fixed Point Software