EDN — 06.20.96 Microprocessors

Microprocessors : June 20, 1996

32-bit microcontroller targets handheld products.

Based on the 32-bit ARM7DI RISC core, the LH77790 embedded microcontroller is useful for a variety of portable electronic devices. The LH77790 combines a number of peripherals, including an LCD controller, UARTs, counter/ timers, an IrDA-compliant interface, a cache, and a local SRAM on a single die. The microcontroller's external 16-bit data bus is compatible with 8- or 16-bit SRAM, DRAM, EPROM, and flash memory. Offering a choice of 3.3 or 5V operation, the LH77790 consumes just 100 mW at 16.7 MHz in the 3.3V mode. At 5V and 25 MHz, the device requires 250 mW. The LH77790 costs $29.50 (1000). Sharp Electronics Corp, Camas, WA. (800) 642-0261.

IC integrates 8-bit MCU and LCD driver/controller.

Four members join the TLCS-870 8-bit microcontroller family, each with an on-chip UART and an LCD driver/controller. The devices' high-current output ports, capable of driving as much as 20 mA, can be used to directly drive an LED for status indication. All of the devices operate from 2.7 to 5.5V at as high as 4.19 MHz and from 4.5 to 5.5V at as high as 8 MHz. The TMP87CH29U, TMP87CK-29U, TMP87CM29U, and TMP87PM29U provide 1 kbyte of RAM and 16 to 32 kbytes of ROM. The TMP87PM29U is a one-time-programmable version. In lots of 10,000 units, respective prices for the CH29U, CK29U, and CM29U are $4.05, $4.48, and $4.48. All prices subject to a $3000 NRE charge. The PM29U costs $9.95 (1000). Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc, Irvine, CA. (800) 879-4963.

16-bit microcontrollers double on-chip memory.

Five 16-bit microcontrollers, part of the TLCS-900L family, offer 4 kbytes of RAM and 128 kbytes of internal ROM, doubling the memory size of their predecessors. The devices also conserve power, operating over a range of 2.7 to 5.5V and drawing just 8 mA typ at 3V. The TMP93-CW40F, TMP93PW40F one-time-programmable (OTP), and TMP93CW41F ROMless versions come in 100-pin MFPs, and the TMP93-CW46F and TMP93PW46F OTP versions come in 100-pin QFPs. Pricing starts at approximately $8 (50,000) for non-OTP versions and at approximately $19 (1000) for OTP versions in units. Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc, Irvine, CA. (800) 879-4963.

16-bit microcontroller sports on-chip flash memory.

The SAB88C166-5M, a 20-MHz 16-bit CMOS microcontroller with 32 kbytes of on-chip flash memory, is intended for demanding real-time control systems, complex PID loops, and servo control. The on-chip flash enables the internal 32-bit bus to nearly double the off-chip performance, which would otherwise require an external 16-bit-wide flash with a 45-nsec access time. In-system programming is accomplished through the serial port and a bootstrap loader. The SAB88C166-5M costs $37 (1000). Siemens Components Inc, Integrated Circuits Division, Cupertino, CA. (408) 777-4500.

18-pin microcontrollers pack high-endurance EEPROM.

Combining the advantages of low cost and low pin count, the 18-pin PIC16C84A and PIC16C83 8-bit microcontrollers are integrated with on-chip EEPROM data and program memory capable of enduring 10 million write/erase cycles. The PIC16C84A offers 1024×14-bit program memory and 64 bytes of data memory. The PIC16C83 provides 512×14-bit program memory and 64 bytes of data memory. Both microcontrollers offer an operating voltage range of 2.0 to 6.0V, a clock-input speed of 10 MHz, an instruction-execution speed of 400 nsec, 13 I/O pins, and an 8-bit counter/timer with 8-bit programmable prescaler. The PIC16C83 costs $3.36 (1000); the PIC16C84A costs $3.86 (1000). Microchip Technology Inc, Chandler, AZ. (602) 786-7200.

Processors, memory march across military-temperature range.

The 28F016XS 16-Mbit synchronous flash memory device and the MCS 251 microcontroller, versions of the Pentium processor, target the military, industrial, and special-environment markets. The 3.3V Pentium comes in 100-, 120-, and 133-MHz speeds and in three temperature grades: -55 to +125°C, -40 to +110°C, and -40 to +85°C. The 28F016XS flash memory operates over both the industrial- and military-temperature ranges and comes in a 56-lead SSOP. A drop-in replacement for the military 87C51 FB and FC microcontrollers, the 87C251SB improves performance by as much as 5× when using existing code and as much as 15× with new code. Prices start at $672 for the Pentium, $139 for the 28F016XS, and $136 for the 87C251SB (1000). Intel Corp, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 628-8686.

RISC processor and core serve multimedia mainstream.

Instruction-set compatible with ARM 6 and ARM 7 devices, the ARM 810 RISC processor and ARM 8 ASIC functional system block (FSB) offer a five-stage instruction pipeline (fetch, read, ALU, memory, and write) that significantly boosts performance over the ARM 7/710 design. Al-though the ARM 8/810 consumes more power (0.5W), it has a processing bandwidth of 72 MHz and a Dhrystone MIPS rating of 84, enough computing power to handle demanding digital video and multimedia applications. Samples of the ARM 810 cost $40. The first ASICs incorporating the ARM 8 FSB are scheduled for the third quarter. VLSI Technology Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 434-3000.

Pentium processor saves power in notebook computers.

The 100-MHz Pentium processor for mobile computers offers built-in voltage-reduction circuitry that lets the processor operate at 3.3V externally and 2.9V internally. The device is initially offered in 0.6- and 0.35-ľm versions. The 0.6-ľm processor has a typical power dissipation of 3W, and the 0.35ľm device dissipates 2.25W. The Pentium achieves a rating of 223 on Winbench96 (CPUmark32) and delivers 3.30 SPECint95 and 2.59 SPECfp95 ratings. In addition to tape-carrier packaging, the part comes in a staggered pin-grid array. The 0.6ľm version costs $218 and the 0.35ľm version costs $271 (1000). Intel Corp, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 628-8686.