Editor’s Choice 8-bit CAN microcontroller offers 20 nA sleep mode
Controller Area Network (CAN) communications technology is widely used in the automotive, industrial, and medical markets for message-based, serial data exchange among subsystem components. The new PIC18F “K80” 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) family from Microchip features an enhanced CAN peripheral along with precision timing control, a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for analog interface, and a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) to enable a capacitive touch-sense user interface. The MCUs feature 1.8 V to 5.5 V operating voltage and Microchip’s nanoWatt eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology to enable sleep current consumption of less than 20 nA. Microchip also
offers a complete suite of development software tools and low-cost plug-in modules to support the PIC18F K80 family. The MCUs are available in multiple package styles, and pricing starts at $1.84 each in 10,000-unit quantities.
Microchip |
www.microchip.com |
www.embedded-computing.com/p47501 USB interface device presents multiple interconnect options
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) became ubiquitous in embedded design to enable high-speed serial interconnects between a host controller and one or more peripheral devices. Expanding your design options, Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) recently announced the FT232H, a single-channel USB 2.0 to UART/FIFO interface device that can be configured via EEPROM to use a variety of serial or parallel interfaces. The device supports I/O interface levels of 3.3 V with 5 V tolerant inputs and contains USB, serial, and parallel protocol engines, thereby eliminating the need for USB-specific firmware development. The FT232H also includes the FT1248 bus, a proprietary 30 MBps, half-duplex, serial/parallel interface so that the designer can adjust the bandwidth and number of physical data lines available to connect to external logic. Available in two 48-pin package styles, the FT232H has an operational temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C. Pricing starts at $2.60 for 1,000 pieces.
Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) |
www.ftdichip.com |
www.embedded-computing.com/p47502 MCU integrates measurement engine, Ethernet, and LCD
As many medical and industrial devices transition to low-power, portable form factors, embedded designers need system components that combine low-power operation with a wide range of measurement capabilities. The new K50 32-bit MCU family from Freescale Semiconductor starts with an integrated analog measurement engine consisting of operational and transimpedance amplifiers, then adds 16-bit ADC and 12-bit DAC modules for continuous processing of analog signals. Also on the K50: on-chip interfaces for Ethernet, a low-power LCD controller, and a capacitive touch-sensing module. And the new MCU supports multiple communication protocols including USB, UART, SPI, I2C, and I2S. The K50 MCU family is pin-, peripheral- and software-compatible with other Kinetis microcontrollers built on the ARM Cortex-M4 core. K50 devices offer
128 KB of flash memory in a 64-pin package starting at $3.58 for quantities of 10,000. Freescale plans to offer sample quantities in June 2011. Freescale Semiconductor |
www.freescale.com |
www.embedded-computing.com/p47503
Wireless module offers advanced network security
Any embedded design that includes wireless communications such as building automation, health monitoring, smart metering, and keyless entry systems must address system security to guarantee reliable operation. In the past it has been either too difficult or too expensive to integrate a secure communications protocol with data encryption and authentication into a small, low-cost, and portable device. Targeting this problem, ZMDI has announced the ZWIR4512, a low-power wireless data communication module for sensors and other small devices. The module combines a 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 processor and an integrated radio to implement full data networking based on the IPv6 Internet protocol. The radio operates in the 868/915 MHz frequency band, which is compatible with European and North American standards. With the built-in MCU, designers can run their application software directly on the ZWIR4512 module and eliminate external circuitry. The complete ZWIR4512 module measures 28 x 16.5 x 3.5 mm, including the antenna connector. It consumes 3.5 µA in sleep mode and 18.5 mA when transmitting data at 0dBm output power.
Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden AG (ZMDI) |
www.zmdi.com |
www.embedded-computing.com/p47504 32 | April 2011 Embedded Computing Design
www.embedded-computing.com
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