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Dear Reader,
This month's issue:
ARM Introduces Low-Cost 32-bit Cortex Series ProcessorsARM and Philips' Handshake Solutions Collaborate to Develop Clockless ProcessorAtmel: ARM7 Micro for Below $3.00EM Microelectonics: Ultra-Low Power FLASH MicroFreescale: New Audio DSPFreescale: ARM7TDMI based 32-bit Family for AutomotiveFujitsu: New 32-bit FR60Lite Family Devices for Motor ControlInfineon: News from the Thinking CarpetIntel Expands Embedded Network Processor LineMicrochip: More I/Os for Basline PICsNEC: 78K0/Fx Series with CANRenesas: M16C family with 3x CAN ControllerRenesas: SuperH SH7146 Family for 3-Phase PWM Motor ControlSTM: Contactless Secure MCU with 2kbyte EEPROMTI: New MSP430 Doubles Performance and Cuts Stand-by Power Into HalfTI: TMS320C54X(TM) DSP in 7x7 BGA Package Cuts Footprint by 2/3Toshiba: Multimedia Reference Design with Real-Time MPEG1/2/4 En- and DecodingZiLOG: New Networking Protocol Stack and Operating System SoftwareARM Introduces Low-Cost 32-bit Cortex Series Processors The first in a new line of RISC processors designed from the ground up to provide high performance at low cost, the ARM Cortex-M3™ delivers up to 1.2 DMIPS/MHz at clock frequencies up to 100MHz on a TMSC 180nm process. This is ARM's smallest package yet with just 33,000 gates. It also introduces a new Single Wire Debug interface, further permitting a reduction of device size and/or build cost. The powerful and efficient Thumb®-2 instruction set is utilized, and an optional memory protection unit (MPU) provides a privileged mode of operation for complex applications. Other aspects of this design, which is based on a 3-stage pipeline Harvard architecture, create less power consumption and reduced memory requirements with tightly coupled system peripherals to maximize performance. Interrupt handling has been improved by implementing the register manipulations in hardware. The design switches between pending or higher-priority interrupts in only six cycles, and comes with 32 interrupt channels as standard but can be configured to between 1 and over 240 channels. The ARM Cortex-M3 processor is available to license now with optional Embedded Trace Macrocell™ (ETM) technology. Completed deliverables including models, compatible RealView development tools, and synthesizable RTL will be released to ARM Partners by Q3 2005. ARM and Philips' Handshake Solutions Collaborate to Develop Clockless Processor ARM and Handshake Solutions are collaborating on the development and marketing of a new ARM® processor using the low-power, self-timed Handshake technology. This new ARM processor is compliant with the ARMv5TE architecture and optimized for use in both synchronous and asynchronous system-on-chip designs, permitting easy integration by semiconductor makers. The key benefits of the processor include low Electro Magnetic emission, reducing the probability of interfering with sensitive circuitry, and low peak currents, reducing system power requirements. Because asynchronous processors consume zero dynamic power when there is no activity, they can significantly extend battery life. The new ARM processor will be available as a licensable core from ARM in Q1 2005. It will be supported by Handshake Solutions' advanced design tools and methodology that enables customers to design a complete or partially asynchronous chip. Atmel: ARM7 Micro for Below $3.00
The AT91SAM7S32 and the AT91SAM7S64 are the first members of a series of small pin-count Smart ARM7 Microcontrollers (SAM7S-series) with Flash densities of 32kByte and 64kBytes, respectively. A 128kbyte and 256kbyte version, the AT91SAM7S128 and AT91SAM7S256, are planned for availability at the end of this year. The new 32-bit microcontrollers integrate a complete set of secure operation functions, including a watchdog clocked by an on-chip RC oscillator, power supply monitors and hardware protection of the Flash memory.
The AT91SAM7S series achieves single-cycle instruction access from embedded Flash at 27 MIPS. Its Advanced Interrupt Controller enhances the basic interrupt facilities of the ARM7 processor to give vectored priority interrupt handling in a minimum number of instruction cycles. Its hardware bit set and reset registers (another Atmel enhancement of the basic ARM provision) enable single-cycle bit manipulation, obviating the need for masked read-modify-write sequences.
The AT91SAM7S microcontrollers include a USB 2.0 full-speed port and a wide variety of communication and control interfaces including an 8-channel 10-bit ADC; DMA controller; a parallel I/O controller that multiplexes the peripheral I/Os with a set of 32 programmable general-purpose I/O lines; and an on-chip voltage regulator that allows single-supply operation at 3.3V.
In quantities of 10k, the AT91SAM7S32 is available in a 48-lead LQFP package at a suggested resell of $2.90 and the AT91SAM7S64 in a 64-lead LQFP package, at $4.05. EM Microelectonics: Ultra-Low Power FLASH Micro
EM Microelectronic announced the EM6812, an ultra-low-power 8-bit microcontroller with FLASH memory. Designed for portable applications, the RISC-based EM6812 consumes only 120 uA from a 3-volt supply in active mode operating at 1MHz, and as little as 0.8 uA in standby mode at 32kHz.
The EM6812 operates from power supplies ranging from 2V to 5.5V. The 8-level supply voltage level detection (SVLD) feature allows various actions to be taken when voltage reaches certain thresholds. The EM6812 combines the following features: Up to 22Kbytes FLASH memory; 8-bit CoolRISC CPU core – delivers up to 2.5 MIPS; Brownout and powercheck functions; 8-level SVLD; Flexible RAM banks: Fully-static, low-power and dual-port; 16 independently-configurable I/Os: debouncer, pull-up, pull-down, CMOS, Nch open drain; I/Os can drive up to 20mA at 5V – suitable for high-current LEDs and motor drive; 16 internal registers, 4 subroutine stacks; 8-bit hardware multiplier – accelerates scaling, math algorithms; 3-wire Serial Interface SPI ; 4 x 8-bit or 2 x 16-bit timers.
The EM6812 is available now in TSSOP-24 and SO-24 packaging and with FLASH memory sizes of 2k x 22 bit, 4k x 22 bit or 8k x 22 bit .
The new DSP56374 can perform various audio equalizing algorithms, compression, speaker compensation, tone control, fade and balance functions, as well as audio sound-field processing algorithms via built-in software in the ROM developed by Freescale using the plug-and-play software architecture. Matrix decoders such as Dolby® Pro-Logic IIx and DTS® Neo:6 are available on certain ROM versions of the parts. Customers are also able to develop their own software by downloading software to the on-board RAM.
DSP56374 Features: 150
MIPS at 150 MHz clock frequency; 18K x 24 RAM; 28K x 24 ROM; 24-bit
MAC with a 56-bit accumulator with capabilities for double precision modes when
necessary; Six-channel DMA controller; Triple timer; Dual Enhanced
Serial Audio Interface; Built-in oscillator circuit; Hardware
watchdog in addition to the software watchdog on the timer for extra protection
in applications without a microcontroller; JTAG port; Low-jitter PLL-based
clocking; Static CMOS design operation at frequencies down to DC. Pricing for the DSPB56374AF in an 80-pin TQFP package 0 degrees C to 70 degrees C is US$4.73 in 10,000-piece quantities - for the 52-pin TQFP package it is US$4.53. Freescale: ARM7TDMI based 32-bit Family for Automotive
Freescale
Semiconductor announced the ARM7TDMi based MAC7100 Family for automotive
applications. Developed with the same design platform and peripheral set
as the MPC5500 family, the MAC7100 devices offer up to 50MHz performance over
the full automotive temperature range and are fully pin compatible. Specific
features of the MAC7100 family include:
The MAC7100 family is available now in sample quantities in memory sizes of 256KB, 384KB and 512KB of embedded flash, with production quantities planned for late 2004. Suggested resale pricing in 10,000-piece quantities is US$13.95 for the MAC7111 (384kB Flash, 32kB RAM). Fujitsu: New 32-bit FR60Lite Family Devices for Motor Control Fujitsu Microelectronics has added two low-power, single-chip 32-bit microcontrollers to its FR60Lite family -the new MB91F267 and MB91266 incorporate multifunction timers for inverter control of motors.The MB91F267 includes 4 Kbytes of RAM and 128 Kbytes flash memory; the MB91266 incorporates 2 Kbytes RAM and 64 Kbytes ROM. Both devices use between 4V and 5.5V, operate at 33MHz and include two UARTs. Each device also incorporates dual 8/10-bit A/D converters modules that can operate in parallel, one with four channels, the other with seven. The A/D converters deliver 1.2 microsecond conversion speed. A hardware MAC (multiply accumulate) unit works in parallel to the CPU and can significantly increase math operations. The new MCU samples are available now in 64-pin quad flat packs. Prices begin at $7.82 each for MB91F267 and $3.40 each for MB91266 in 1,000-unit pieces. Infineon: News from the Thinking Carpet We reported about the Thinking Carpet already back in January 2004. Now Vorwerk Teppichwerke and Infineon Technologies AG presented, after two years of research work, the prototype of an electronically networked, high-tech carpet for the first time from 19th to the 23rd of October at the international “Orgatec“ trade fair in Cologne, Germany. Targeting office buildings the partners hope that the “Thinking Carpet” will soon take over functions implemented today with discrete sensor controls, such as alarm, climate control, regulatory or guidance systems technology. Pressure sensors in the carpet report for example an alarm as soon as people enter a security zone. Software analyzes the signals to trigger an alarm, for example, only when movement was detected on a window or an emergency exit, but not at free-access entrances. Security zones can be individually defined and individually controlled on a time-frame basis. As soon as registered signals are additionally relayed to a security control centre, the point of alarm (break-in or fire) can be localized precisely in a matter of seconds. Pressure sensors in the carpet can also be utilized as door-openers and light switches, or as electronic counters for people. In combination with shatterproof LEDs, the “Thinking Carpet” becomes a controllable guidance system: Llight-emitting diodes in the carpet mark the shortest route to an emergency exit. The combination of different sensory functions (pressure, temperature and motion) can additionally enable the detection of people lying motionless on the floor, triggering a call for emergency help. A self-organizing network of robust microchips is responsible for the capturing and processing of data in the “Thinking Carpet”. If a sensor fails for some reason, the neighboring processors can use their own positioning to look for a new connecting route which circumvents the defective region and maintains functionality. This makes it possible to cut the carpet, replace segments or add new ones at any time. The sensors involved are built into a textile material, the so-called secondary backing layer of the carpet, and are linked to one another via fine wires. Depending on the desired dispersal of detected signals, a “Thinking Carpet” carries from one to 25 sensors per square meter in its backing. Great attention is paid to safety: The special backing construction eliminates any danger of injury, even if the carpet is damaged. If the carpet comes into contact with wetness, an intelligent safety system assures that a short circuit does not render the entire intelligent network useless. Wet areas are automatically shut off, then put back into operation after they have dried. Intel Expands Embedded Network Processor Line The new Intel IXP460 and IXP465 network processors are the latest additions to the Intel IXP4XX product line and offer a higher speed Intel XScale® core, expanded connectivity options as well as enhancements to improve end system reliability and security.
The IXP46X is sampling and priced at approximately $19 to $75 in quantities of 10,000, depending on speed and temperature requirements. The IXP23XX is also sampling with a price range depending on speed of approximately $84 to $142 in quantities of 10,000. The IXP465 features: Intel XScale® core - available at 266 MHz, 400 MHz, 533 MHz and 667 MHz; 32-bit 33/66 MHz PCI v2.2 host and option interface; USB v. 1.1 device controller; USB v. 2.0 host controller (supports low-speed and full-speed modes only); DDR1-266 SDRAM interfae (32MByte to 1GByte);up to six integrated 10/100 Ethernet MACs with SMII interface; up to three integrated 10/100 Ethernet MACs with MII interface; UTOPIA-2 Interface with multiple ADSL/G.SHDSL or VDSL PHY support; Two high-speed serial (HSS) ports for connecting to T1/E1 or SLIC/CODECs; Silicon functional assistance for Random Number Generation; Integrated hardware support for AES/AES-CCM/3DES/DES/SHA-1/SHA-256/ SHA-384/SHA-512/MD-5/RSA/DSA/Diffie-Hellman encryption algorithms; Two high-speed UARTs support up to 921Kbaud each; Integrated I2C and SSP interfaces. Microchip: More I/Os for Basline PICs Microchip Technology announced the PIC16F59 -the first baseline 8-bit PIC microcontroller to be offered in 40- and 44-pin packages. Key features of the PIC16F59 microcontroller include: 2K words of Flash program memory, and 134 bytes of RAM; Baseline core with 33 instructions and 2 stack levels; 25 mA source/sink current I/O; Low power (100 nA) sleep current; One 8-bit timer and one watchdog timer; In-Circuit Serial Programming™ capability; Voltage range of 2.0 – 5.5 volts. 10kUnit pricing for the 40-pin DIP package is US$1.46; for the 44-pin TQFP package it is US$1.49. NEC announced 6 new products in the 78K0/FX Series, the 78K0/FC1+ family in a 44-pin QFP package and with 32KB, 48KB, and 60KB Flash and 2KB, 3KB and 3KB RAM respectively; the 78K0/FE1+ family in a 64-pin QFP package and with 48kB/60KB Flash and 3kB RAM; and the 78K0FF1+ in a 80=pin QFP package and 60KB of Flash and 3kB of RAM. All devices feature a CAN interface, 2 UART/LIN interfaces, 2x 16-bit timers, 5x 8-bit timers, watchdog, 8-12 channel 10-bit A/D and low voltage detection. Renesas: M16C family with 3x CAN Controller Renesas Technology announced a total of six M32C/88 Group models in the M16C Family's M32C/80 Series. The M32C/88 Group offers the following features: On-chip 3-channel CAN controller; up to 512 Kbytes FLASH and 4 Kbytes RAM. The flash memory operates on a single power supply, and achieves a fast write time of approximately 7 seconds for 512 Kbytes. All devices feature a 4 channel DMA controller, 11x 16-bit times, 5x synchronous/USART serial communication channels, a 10-bit A/D converter with 26 (100pin package) or 34 (144 pin package) input channels; dual 8-bit D/A converter; 8x input and output compare I/Os; watchdog timer, 3-phase inverter circuit, I2C interface, IEBus, SIM interface and an HDLC interface. The M32C/88 Group is pin compatibile with the M32C/80 Series, M16C/80 Series, and M16C/60 Series and comes in 100-pin and 144-pin LQFP packages. Pricing ranges from 2300 to 2500 Yen. Renesas: SuperH SH7146 Family for 3-Phase PWM Motor Control The SH7146 Series is the successor to the SH7046 Series, and offers the following features: 1.6-fold increase in operating frequency to 80 MHz, plus 5 V single-power-supply operation; two multifunction timer pulse unit modules for motor control applications including DC brushless motors and AC induction motors; A/D conversion speed has been doubled and an inverter protection function has been provided, enabling more precise motor control to be achieved. Two family members have been released, the SH7146F in a 80-pin LQFP with no provision for connection of external memory and the SH7149F in a 100-pin LQFP and teh ability to connect external memory (flash memory, SRAM).Both models incorporate 256-Kbyte flash memory and 8Kbyte RAM. Features include: a multifunction timer pulse unit 2 (MTU2) and multifunction timer pulse unit 2S (MTU2S) providing 3-phase PWM output capability for inverter products. Activation of A/D converters for motor current detection is synchronized with a carrier to allow automatic operation at any timing, enabling the CPU load to be reduced and making it possible to achieve functions such as single shunt vector control. The conversion speed of the 10-bit A/D converters has been doubled. Three independent A/D units with a total of 12 input channels are integrated, allowing simultaneous A/D conversion of up to three different analog signals. 3 Serial communication channels, 2 compare match timers, 1 watchdog timer and a built-in PLL clock generator complete the feature round-up. The SH714F is priced at 1600 Yen the SH7149F at 1700 Yen. STM: Contactless Secure MCU with 2kbyte EEPROM STMicroelectronics has added a new contactless smartcard microcontroller with 2-kbytes of EEPROM - the ST19WR02 - to its ST19 family of secure MCUs. The new chip is built using 0.18-micron technology. In
addition to 2-kbytes of EEPROM it includes 64-kbytes of ROM, 1-kbytes of user
RAM and a high-speed ISO 14443 contactless interface. A hardware DES
cryptographic processor, with library support for symmetrical algorithms, is
complemented by a broad collection of high level memory and anti-intrusion
security features. It is supplied in micromodule or wafer form. US pricing for
the product is approximately $1.20, depending on quantity and final packaging. TI: New MSP430 Doubles Performance and Cuts Stand-by Power Into Half The new MSP430F2xx family features a real-time clock standby mode of less than one micro-amp with the ability to switch in less than one micro-second to a fully synchronized 16 million of instructions per second (MIPS) active mode. Additional enhancements of MSP430F2xx, which reduce the need for external components, include an integrated +/- 2.5% on-chip oscillator, pull-up/pull-down resistors, and increased number of analog inputs. The in-system programmable Flash has been improved with smaller 64-byte segments, programming times as fast as 17 micro-seconds per byte and a lower 2.2-V programming voltage allowing the elimination of external EEPROMs in most systems. The new family also features a zero-power brown-out reset (BOR) function, a new failsafe clock system, enhanced watchdog timer and improved bootstrap loader (BSL). In the event of a crystal failure, from active or any low-power mode, the MSP430F2xx clock system can automatically re-start the on-chip oscillator and force a non-maskable interrupt. External crystal connections are filtered to prevent external noise from being introduced to the system. The watchdog timer prohibits software from disabling its clock source, and errant code will force a complete system reset. Code security is improved with a hack-proof BSL that executes a complete memory erase after receiving an incorrect password. First devices of the MSP430F2xx family will feature 1KB to 8KB Flash memory, up to 128B to 256B RAM, 16 I/Os, and a seven-input analog comparator. The MSP430F2xx devices will be available in volume production in first half of 2005 and will be priced starting from $0.89 in 10,000-piece quantities. TI: TMS320C54X(TM) DSP in 7x7 BGA Package Cuts Footprint by 2/3 TI announced the TMS320C5405 16-bit, fixed-point DSP in a space saving 7x7xmm BGA package that reduces printed circuit board space requirements to one-third of competing DSPs. Based on the TMS320C54x™ DSP core, on-chip features include 32 Kbytes of RAM, two multi-channel buffered serial ports (McBSPs), an 8-bit host port interface (HPI) bus, two 16-bit timers and a six-channel DMA controller. It delivers up to 80 MMACs of real-time signal processing for $5.20 (@10kUnit quantities). Toshiba: Multimedia Reference Design with Real-Time MPEG1/2/4 En- and Decoding The AVM49R reference design combines a powerful, highly-integrated 300 megagertz (MHz) Toshiba TMPR4938 MIPS-based RISC processor with the Vweb VW2010 MPEG-1/2/4 audio/video CODEC chip in a compact 6.7-inch by 6.7-inch mini-ITX form factor. IT supports real-time MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 encoding and decoding. The reference design includes the following:
The AVM49R Multimedia Reference Platform HDK is available at $10,000.00 per license. ZiLOG: New Networking Protocol Stack and Operating System Software ZiLOG launched a new version of its integrated, preemptive multitasking OS (RZK) and TCP/IP protocol software suite (ZTP). ZTP Version 1.4 provides either the industry standard socket interface or a native RZK Application Programming Interfaces (API) for user applications to access TCP/IP services, all under user control. ZTP offers the following features: Full TCP/IP operation over Ethernet or PPP; Core protocols: TCP, UDP, IP, ICMP, IGMP, ARP, RARP, DHCP/BOOTP; Additional protocols: HTTP v1.1, TFTP, TELNET, SMTP, SNMP, TIMEP, DNS; RFC compliant; Configuration options to customize stack for application needs; Ethernet and serial device drivers; Supports multiple network connections; Multi-session HTTP server that works with standard browsers; Embedded CGI interface supporting dynamic HTML operations; Pre-emptive, multitasking, operating system. In addition, ZiLOG has added the following features to Version 1.4: Flash file system supporting multiple disk volumes and works on available Flash and RAM; FTP server and client protocols; Berkley socket APIs in addition to native RZK socket APIs; Xinu translation layer/APIs for backward compatibility; SPI, I˛C, and RTC drivers; Network security SSL plug-in options (available separately). ZTP V1.4 object-code package (part # eZ800000100STO) can be downloaded free of charge by all registered customers of eZ80Acclaim! Flash MCU's. ZTP V1.4 source code package (part # eZ800000100STS) is available for purchase at $1,995. About MicroController Pros Corporation MicroController Pros Corporation (µCPros) is an authorized distributor for many microcontroller tool vendors, which enables us to offer you a large selection of Microcontroller Development Tools for almost any major microcontroller architecture. Our MicroControllerShop (http://microcontrollershop.com) puts convenient and secure online shopping, feature- and price-comparison on your computer's desktop. Microcontroller Development Tools featured at the MicroControllerShop include: Emulators, EPROM programmers, FLASH programmers, microcontroller C- compilers, assemblers, emulator accessories, pin adapters, pin converters, microcontroller starter kits and embedded evaluation boards for various microcontroller architectures and manufacturers. µCPros also provides consultancy and outsourcing services in: |
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