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Welcome to the November/December 2007 edition of MicroController
Pros Corporation's Embedded News Digest, your source for microcontroller and
embedded system news.
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This month's issue:
ARM Introduces SecurCore SC300 Processor For Smart Card Applications
Atmel Introduces High-Performance Secure MCU for Mobile Payment and Mobile TV
Freescale adds 30
Devices to 8-bit S08 MCU Family
Freescale Introduces 8-bit MCU Family with CAN, EEPROM and Debug Capability
Infineon
Launches 16-bit Real-Time Signal Controller Family
Microchip Technology Extends PIC Microcontroller Line to 32 Bits
Microchip
Adds More Low-Pin-Count Members to PIC24H Family
Microchip Technology Adds More Flash Memory to dsPIC33F DSCs
Renesas Develops RS-4 Series 16-Bit Secure MCUs for Smart Cards
STMicroelectronics Introduces Free Self-Test Software for STM32 MCU
STMicroelectronics Introduces 90nm Secure MCU with Embedded Flash for Smart
Cards
TI Introduces
Low-Power MCU with Complete Signal Chain
ARM has announced the availability of the ARM SecurCore SC300 processor,
designed specifically for contactless and USB smart cards and embedded security
applications. The new product, based upon the Cortex-M3 processor, combines the
security features of ARM SecurCore processors with the code efficiency of the
Thumb-2 instruction set architecture, doubling energy efficiency and
performance.
With collaboration from three tier-one contactless IC vendors, the SecurCore
SC300 processor will enable more functionality to be embedded in a smart card or
SIM card than ever before, with minimal additional silicon area. In addition,
the SC300 processor features fast real-time handling of multiple interfaces for
new high-speed and contactless applications, including Smart Card Web Server and
Near Field Communication.
The SecurCore SC300 processor offers fully featured debug facilities and tools
to help smart card OEMs speed software development. Further, smart card
emulation is available prior to silicon, enabling collaboration in the early
stages of hardware and software development, and accelerating time-to-market.
[back to table of contents]
Atmel Corporation has announced the introduction of its AT91SC464384RCU, the
newest addition to the AT91SC Advanced Telecoms product family. Based on the ARM
SC100, this secure microcontroller targets mobile payment and mobile TV
applications. It features on-chip compact ROM program memory of 464 kBytes, a
flexible 384kB EEPROM for data, and 18kB of RAM. Communication interfaces are
ISO7816 and Single Wire Protocol (SWP).
With the AT91SC464384RCU, Atmel offers the ability to secure highly sensitive
digital transactions. This device, with its high-end security features, targets
Common Criteria EAL4+ certification, thereby assuring total security for mobile
TV and mobile payment applications.
Development tools and literature are available upon request and the first ROM
codes are already set for bulk production.
[back to table of contents]
Freescale Semiconductor has added 30 highly integrated microcontrollers to
their 8-bit S08 portfolio for consumer, industrial and automotive applications.
These latest MCUs provide embedded designers with a wider choice of
cost-effective 8-bit options supporting 5V operation, advanced motor control and
an extended range of peripherals, from USB to LIN.
The S08JM60 family adds higher performance and integration to Freescale's
8-bit embedded USB portfolio. The eight devices in this growing family feature a
full-speed USB device controller, which enables customers to upgrade and
standardize serial communications quickly. The S08JM60 family offers a 24MHz bus
frequency along with up to 60KB of Flash memory and a 12-channel, 12-bit ADC.
The devices also include an integrated USB transceiver and several
system-protection features, such as low-voltage detection and a Computer
Operating Properly (COP) module.
Freescale also offers extensive USB application notes and a free "USB-Lite"
software stack by CMX. This easy-to-use USB software helps developers get their
USB applications up and running in minutes. Source code for the USB stack is
also available, enabling developers to easily modify the software for their
application needs.
S08JM MCUs feature up to 51 general-purpose I/O and are available in 64LQFP,
64QFP, 48QFN and 44LQFP packages.
Featuring 12 devices, the MC9S08SH8/4 family brings increased flexibility
and a wide breadth of package offerings to Freescale's 5V low-end 8-bit MCU
portfolio. These S08SH controllers are Freescale's first low-pin-count S08
devices with a 20 MHz internal clock source. They also include a useful ganged
output capability that enables developers to achieve higher current drive by
toggling multiple pins using one bit. Rounding out the family's
functionality are analog capabilities, a comprehensive set of serial modules, an
on-chip temperature sensor and various memory options, which are ideal for
general-purpose, tethered consumer and industrial applications in the 2.7V to
5.5V range.
S08SH MCUs feature 256 or 512 Bytes of RAM and are available in 16-pin TSSOP and
20-pin TSSOP packages.
The S08SG family includes four 8-bit MCUs designed for LIN slave, general
market and space-constrained automotive applications. The MC9S08SG core operates
at up to 40 MHz, stretching the boundaries of 8-bit performance into the range
of 16-bit MCUs. The S08SG family offers on-chip emulation/debug that helps
reduce development time by enabling developers to make software changes in real
time. Other notable features include Low Voltage Inhibit circuits, voltage
regulators, I/O multiplexers, watchdog circuits and ADCs.
S08SG MCUs feature 256 or 512 Bytes of RAM and are available in 16-pin TSSOP and
20-pin TSSOP packages.
The MC9S08AC16 family includes six devices that offer an upward migration
path to MC9S08AW-based applications requiring higher performance, enhanced
peripherals, additional memory and improved system security. The MC9S08AC16 adds
a third timer PWM module, giving designers added clocking flexibility.
Improvements to the serial communications interface satisfy the need for
integrated LIN functionality. The addition of a 1 kHz oscillator to the
COP/watchdog timer provides an additional two timeout options, which helps
enhance system security.
Additional noteworthy features include enhanced low-voltage warning, two SCIs,
an SPI, an IIC, a 10-bit ADC, and 10 programmable 16-bit timer channels with
center-aligned PWM capability.
S08AC16 MCUs feature 16 kB Flash and are available in 48QFN, 44LQFP and 32LQFP
packages.
[back to table of contents]
Freescale's new S08D family features the first 8-bit MCUs to integrate a CAN
interface, EEPROM and on-chip emulation/debug tools. Each of these integrated
capabilities is available across the full automotive temperature range of -40
degrees C to 125 degrees C.
The S08D family encompasses a scalable array of 8-bit MCU options optimized for
a wide range of automotive and industrial control applications. In the
automotive market, the S08D family targets body, chassis, safety and powertrain
control. Prime industrial control applications include factory and building
automation, security systems, medical monitoring equipment, and aircraft and
aerospace electronics.
The S08D family currently features three product lines: the 9S08DZ flagship line
with high-performance, full-featured devices offering both integrated CAN and
EEPROM; the 9S08DN line featuring embedded EEPROM without the CAN module; and
the 9S08DV cost-optimized line featuring integrated CAN connectivity without
EEPROM.The S08D family is manufactured on Freescale's 0.25-micron process
technology and provides 40 MHz core speed and 20 MHz bus speed.
Samples of the S08D family devices are planned to be available this month.
The suggested resale price for the 9S08DZ line in 10,000-piece quantities starts
at $2.52; the 9S08DV line in 10,000-piece quantities starts at $2.57; and the
9S08DN line in 10,000-piece quantities starts at $2.28.
[back to table of contents]
Infineon Technologies has introduced a new family of 16-bit real-time signal
controllers that feature fast interrupt response time and context switching
specifically targeting industrial drives applications. The new XE166 family of
Real-Time Signal Controllers (RTSC) can control up to four individual motors
simultaneously.
The XE166 family is based on the C166S V2 core. The high-performance RTSC
products integrate a microcontroller that combines the strengths of a 16-bit
C166 core for the peripheral control with the computing power of a digital
signal processor. Operating at 80 MHz and one cycle per instruction, all XE166
devices deliver 80 MIPS, which is twice the performance of its XC166
predecessor. Also, with a maximum of 768 kB, the XE166 Flash capacity is three
times more than the XC166. The software developed for existing C166 and XC166
controllers can be easily reused with this new family.
The XE166 family integrates an embedded voltage regulator, various clock
sources, brown-out detection and watchdog. The peripheral set includes up to
four capture/compare units to drive an electrical motor using either sinusoidal
or space vector modulation algorithms. The XE166 products include two
synchronizable analog-to-digital converters with 24-channels, 10-bit resolution
and a conversion time of less than 1.2 microseconds. It also includes a wide
range of interface options, such as a MultiCAN interface handling up to five CAN
nodes and up to 128 message objects simultaneously. There is also a new level of
flexibility which features up to six Universal Serial Interface channels to link
to external peripherals via a UART, LIN, SPI, I2C or IIS interface.
Infineon has also implemented error-correction coding (ECC) technology which
finds and corrects single-bit errors and detects double-bit errors.
The XE166 product portfolio will include 28 products. The derivatives will vary
in the embedded Flash memory size (192 kBytes, 384 kBytes, 576 kBytes and 768
kBytes), operating frequency (66 MHz / 80 MHz), scalable peripheral sets and
lead-free LQFP100/144 package options, with 64- and 176-pin versions planned.
Altium in cooperation with Infineon is offering a one-year license-free Tasking
XE166 Compiler Tool Chain.
[back to table of contents]
Microchip Technology has announced the PIC32 family of 32-bit
microcontrollers. The PIC32 family adds more performance and more memory while
maintaining pin, peripheral and software compatibility with Microchip's 16-bit
MCU/DSC families. To further ease migration and protect tool investments, the
PIC32 family is fully supported by Microchip's free MPLAB Integrated Development
Environment. The MPLAB IDE offers unprecedented compatibility by supporting
Microchip's complete portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit devices.
Launching with seven general-purpose members, the PIC32 family operates at up to
72 MHz and offers ample code- and data-space capabilities with up to 512 KB
Flash and 32 KB RAM. The PIC32 family also includes a rich set of integrated
peripherals, significantly reducing total design complexity and cost. Examples
include a variety of communication peripherals, a 16-bit Parallel Master Port
supporting additional memory and displays, as well as a single-supply on-chip
voltage regulator.
The PIC32 family is based on the MIPS32 architecture, with its combination of
high performance, low power consumption, fast interrupt response and extensive
industry tool support. The MIPS32 M4K core can achieve 1.5 DMIPS/MHz operation,
due to its efficient instruction-set architecture, 5-stage pipeline, hardware
multiply/accumulate unit and up to 8 sets of 32 core registers. To reduce system
cost, the PIC32 supports MIPS16e 16-bit ISA—enabling code-size reductions of up
to 40%.
The first seven members of the PIC32 family come in 64- or 100-pin TQFP
packages. Prices start at $2.95 each, in 10,000-unit quantities, for the
PIC32MX300F032H, which has 32 KB Flash and 8 KB RAM in a 64-pin TQFP. The
PIC32MX360F512L, with 512 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM in a 100-pin TQFP, is priced at
$5.30 each in 10,000-unit quantities. Volume production for all seven members is
expected in Q2 2008.
[back to table of contents]
Microchip Technology has announced three additions to the PIC24H
high-performance 16-bit MCU family, featuring low pin counts with up to 32
kBytes of Flash program memory in packages as small as 6x6 mm. These 28- and
40-pin, 40 MIPS devices start at $2.29 each in 10,000-unit quantities.
Microchip is the only company to offer seamless migration among all of its 8-,
16- and 32-bit devices, including pin, peripheral, software and tool
compatibility between its 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers and DSP-enabled
DSCs.
The PIC24HJ32 family also features Peripheral Pin Select, which allows designers
to remap digital I/O to optimize board layout, enabling smaller boards, less
noise and the use of a lower pin count. The family is supported by the full
complement of tools that are common to all of Microchip's controllers.
All three members of the PIC24HJ32 family are available today for general
sampling and volume production, with prices starting at $2.29 each in
10,000-unit quantities. The PIC24HJ32GP202 is available in 28-pin SDIP, SOIC and
QFN packages. The PIC24HJ32GP204 and PIC24HJ16GP304 are both available in 44-pin
TQFP and QFN packages.
[back to table of contents]
Microchip Technology has announced an expansion of its low-pin-count 16-bit
Digital Signal Controller portfolio with the addition of three dsPIC33F General
Purpose Family members and three dsPIC33F Motor Control/Power Conversion Family
DSCs, which offer increased memory options for a range of applications including
smart sensor processing, advanced motor control, lighting and power inverters.
The new General Purpose DSCs feature 16 or 32 kBytes of Flash memory with 28- or
44-pin packages and provide a pin- and code-compatible migration path for PIC24
microcontrollers. The devices also feature an on-chip ADC, with up to 1.1 Msps,
and serial interfaces such as I2C, SPI and UART.
The three dsPIC33F Motor Control Family DSCs add a motor-control PWM with two
independent clock sources for advanced motor control or inverter algorithms, as
well as active power factor correction. This on-chip PWM peripheral is also
designed for power-conversion and lighting applications. They also include a
quadrature encoder interface for sensor-based motor applications.
Both the General Purpose and Motor Control DSCs also feature Peripheral Pin
Select, which allows designers to remap digital I/O to optimize board layout.
Powerful applications libraries can be downloaded from Microchip's Web site for
evaluation and development. For production, libraries are either free or low
cost, and without royalties. Library downloads include speech processing, noise
reduction, motor control, advanced security, connectivity, file management, and
common math and DSP routines. Microchip also offers low-cost visual tools for
designers who wish to incorporate digital filters, tune parameters in real time
and initialize peripherals.
The dsPIC33FJ32GP and dsPIC33FJ32MC families consist of three members each,
which are all available today for general sampling and volume production with
prices starting at $2.51 and $2.47 each, respectively, in 10,000-unit
quantities. The dsPIC33FJ32GP202 and dsPIC33FJ32MC202 are available in 28-pin
SDIP, SOIC and QFN packages. The dsPIC33FJ32GP204, dsPIC33FJ32MC204,
dsPIC33FJ16GP304 and dsPIC33FJ16MC304 are all available in 44-pin TQFP and QFN
packages.
[back to table of contents]
Renesas Technology has announced the development of the new RS-4 Series of
16-bit secure MCUs for smart card applications in fields requiring a high level
of security, such as credit or debit cards issued by banks or finance companies
and ID cards. The new RS-4 Series of 16-bit secure MCUs is the successor to the
AE-4 Series of 16-bit secure MCUs, which has a solid track record. The RS-4
Series maintains CPU instruction code compatibility with its predecessor while
delivering approximately five times the processing performance. This increased
processing power enables the RS-4 Series to handle tasks that were beyond the
AE-4 Series and would previously have required developers to employ a 32-bit MCU.
The new secure MCUs can perform complex processing at high speed, making it
possible for them to run a multi-application OS such as Java Card or MULTOS
faster, which is necessary to implement multiple functions on a single smart
card.
The RS-4 Series implements encryption processing, required in the financial
field, based on that of the AE-4 Series. In addition, the RS-4 Series adds a
coprocessor supporting stronger AES encryption and other security features. The
final product versions will offer smart card MCU security level EAL5+
certification as defined under the latest version of the Common Criteria for IT
Security Evaluation, an attestation of high-level security demanded by the
target market.
[back to table of contents]
STMicroelectronics has introduced a new software library for the
recently-announced STM32 Flash microcontroller family, designed specifically to
simplify the testing and securing end-product approval and compliance with the
demands of the IEC 60335-1 standard when the MCU is used in household
appliances. Since October 2007, IEC 60335-1 requires the software of MCU-based
appliances to be evaluated according to its impact on overall consumer and
application safety. When some of the fault detection relies on the
microcontroller, the embedded code must contain self-test routines, and must be
evaluated under the so-called Class B requirements for its ability to detect
safety critical failures.
The new self-diagnostic software modules developed by ST for the STM32 family
have been approved by the VDE (German Association for Electrical, Electronic &
Information Technologies) testing and certification institute, which is
recognized globally for its efforts. Now, when a manufacturer uses these modules
in an application, the application will not need to be completely re-evaluated
by VDE as part of the final product certification, thereby saving significant
time for the appliance manufacturer. ST is the first semiconductor manufacturer
to receive this certification for routines based on 32-bit MCUs.
The software library, with associated documentation, is available free of charge
from ST on request. It includes a complete safe-boot sequence, plus
self-diagnostic modules for the CPU, non-volatile memory, RAM, and the clock
frequency. Transparent RAM tests are also carried out during run-time. In
addition, the STM32 embeds safety-related hardware, including dual internal
watchdogs and fail-safe clock circuitry, which simplifies certification by
reducing the number of self-test routines actually required and decreasing the
software overhead.
[back to table of contents]
STMicroelectronics has announced a new secure microcontroller based on
embedded Flash memory - produced using 90nm process technology. The ST21F384 --
the first secure micro within ST's ST21 smartcard platform optimized for 2.5G
and 3G mobile communications -- uses Flash memory in place of mask ROM for its
program memory, to provide increased flexibility and shorter lead times for
manufacturers, coupled with increased cost-efficiency from its 90nm production.
The new ST21F family will enable card manufacturers to react quickly and
cost-effectively to the fast-changing needs of the mobile market, customizing
applications late in the production process, at the card personalization stage,
and addressing the requirements of multiple Mobile Network Operators with a
single product. Supply chain risk and complexity can be reduced, as the silicon
is not linked to a specific operator profile.
The ST21F384 is based on an enhanced 8/16-bit CPU core with 16 MByte linear
addressing range, running typically at 21 MHz. It embeds 7 kBytes of user RAM,
plus 384 kBytes of Flash memory, organized as 128-byte pages, with an erase
capability similar to that of the EEPROM used in earlier devices in the secure
family. Current consumption complies with 2G and 3G specifications to meet the
requirements of (U)SIM applications. The microcontroller includes a hardware DES
accelerator and a user-accessible CRC calculation block.
Samples of the ST21F384 are available now, with volume production starting this
month. The ST21F384 is available as sawn or unsawn wafers, and in 6-contact
(D17) and 8-contact (D95) RoHS-compliant modules, with contact assignment
compatible with ISO 7816-2. In wafer form it is priced at $0.45 in quantities of
100,000 units.
[back to table of contents]
Texas Instruments has announced a system-on-chip MCU that provides a complete
signal chain for handheld medical applications. The new MSP430FG4270 MCU
integrates a comprehensive range of functions needed to design low-cost portable
medical diagnostic equipment.
In order to measure, monitor and display analog physiological input signals such
as temperature, blood pressure and other vital signs, the ultra-low power
MSP430FG4270 MCU integrates the complete analog and digital signal chain. This
includes signal conditioning techniques such as amplification, filtering and
digital conversion.
The MSP430FG4270's 16-bit RISC architecture is designed for optimized
performance and extended battery life. Five low-power modes, with a standby
power consumption of only 1.1 uA, conserve power, while a wake-up from standby
to active mode of less than 6 us provides excellent response when the equipment
is needed. On-chip functions that save external components include a
high-performance 16-bit sigma-delta ADC with internal reference and five
differential analog inputs, 12-bit DAC, two configurable operational amplifiers,
16-bit timer, 16-bit registers, 32 I/O pins, zero-power brown-out reset, and an
LCD driver with contrast control for up to 56 segments.
The MCU's power savings and SoC integration can also benefit other types of
applications, including analog and digital sensor systems, portable medical
devices, digital motor control, remote controls, thermostats, digital timers and
handheld meters.
The new MSP430FG4270 MCU is now available in volume from TI and TI authorized
distributors. Customers can select a 48-pin SSOP or 48-pin QFN package.
Suggested resale pricing for the MSP430FG4270 is $3.78 per unit in quantities of
10,000.
[back to table of contents]
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The
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MicroController Pros Corporation
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