Product category: Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Freescale Semiconductor | Subject: Nitron
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 30 September 2002

MCUs drive Flash
into cost-sensitive applications

The Nitron series 68HC08-based microcontrollers provides the versatility of Flash memory at a price comparable to competing OTP and ROM parts

Designers of cost-sensitive embedded systems from light dimmer switches and digital keypads to windscreen wiper motor controllers and washing machine controllers will benefit from lower-cost 8bit Flash microcontrollers from Motorola. The new Nitron series of six small-profile, 68HC08-based Flash MCUs, available in 8- and 16-lead packaging brings designers of consumer electronics, industrial and automotive systems increased flexibility in the development and manufacturing processes, as well as reduced time-to-market and system costs.

Because of Motorola's advances in Flash manufacturing technology and high production volumes, the Nitron devices, with a suggested resale price as low as US $0.70, and future derivatives planned under US $0.50, can meet or beat the price of many other vendors' MCUs with on-chip one-time programmable (OTP) memory, and in some cases, read only memory (ROM).

Now, with the 68HC08 Family, Motorola offers to customers an entire spectrum of 8bit MCUs, from very low-cost to very high performance, with the widest variety of on-chip memory and peripheral options available in the industry.

Customers can also access a complete development environment at no cost to registered users of Motorola's website, as Motorola is making available free development tools (valued at more than US $2000) for the Nitron Flash MCUs.

"Motorola's new 68HC908 devices incorporate on-chip Flash memory that not only enables us to reprogram our systems many times during the development cycle, but also to program late in the manufacturing cycle and make upgrades remotely in the field", said Marco Borgiani, managing director of Elmarc, an Antonio Merloni Company.

"This means we can offer our customers new features, better performance, safety and security, with minimal increase in costs.

We're extensively using the 68HC908 series, allowing us to utilise Flash memory in our white goods applications with great results.

Now, the new Motorola 68HC908QY2 microcontroller will enable us to introduce a microcontroller into a very cost-critical application - the thermostat of a refrigerator".

"Microcontrollers are the embedded intelligence behind products that people use in daily life, from household appliances and exercise equipment to automobiles and computer mice", said Tony Massimini, chief of technology for analyst firm Semico Research.

"Motorola has been the long-standing leader in microcontrollers.

With the increased flexibility and faster program times for these cost-sensitive embedded products, customers will benefit from smarter, more convenient, more energy efficient products".

The Nitron family includes six new pin-compatible devices based on the 68HC08 architecture: the 68HC908QT1, 68HC908QT2, 68HC908QT4, 68HC908QY1, 68HC908QY2 and 68HC908QY4.

Each device features the widely-accepted, high-performance 68HC08 central processing unit (CPU), in-application and in-circuit reprogrammable Flash memory (1.5 to 4Kbyte), and a number of on-chip peripherals, including a two-channel 16bit timer system with selectable capture, compare and PWM, system protection such as selectable trip point LVI (low voltage inhibit) and auto-wakeup from STOP COP (computer operating properly), and serial I/O and a four-channel 8bit analogue to digital convertor (on QT2/QT4/QY2/QY4 versions).

Available packages include 8-lead PDIP, 8-lead SOIC, 16-lead PDIP, 16-lead SOIC and 16-lead TSSOP.

Motorola's Flash MCUs are in-application and in-circuit reprogrammable, with very fast programming times (as fast as 32us/byte), block protection and security features to help guard customers' guard intellectual property contained in software code.

They allow embedded system designers to program late in the manufacturing cycle, make upgrades remotely in the field, and to quickly respond to the changing needs of their customers and the market with more flexibility than one-time-programmable and ROM-based MCUs.

"No other semiconductor supplier can match Motorola's embedded Flash technology, Flash MCU portfolio nor success in the market", noted Paul Grimme, corporate vice president and general manager for Motorola's 8/16-Bit Products Division.

"We're leveraging years of non-volatile memory expertise to help customers bring new functionality to a host of cost-sensitive products that improve people's lives in many ways.

For example, a lighting manufacturer that currently offers a basic dimmer switch can use a 68HC908 Flash MCU to add features, such as programmable settings, time delays and safety shut-off, with minimal effect on the price and added convenience for consumers".

The Metrowerks CodeWarrior Development Studio Special Edition for the 68HC908QT/QY series is available at no charge to registered users of Motorola's website.

This tool, which contains more than US $2000 of advanced tools from the world's leading vendors, enables full-chip simulation and Flash programming and includes a C compiler, assembler, linker and debugger and an auto-code generator for on-chip peripherals.

This professional toolset is being provided free to help Motorola 68HC08 customers dramatically reduce development time and improve code quality.

In addition, Motorola offers a special-edition evaluation board that features a battery powered 68HC908QT4 device, LEDs, potentiometer, pushbuttons provided with access to all I/O for user-provided interfacing, a software demo and application code.

This evaluation board is available from Motorola distributors worldwide at the suggested resale price of US $25 (or local equivalent).

However, while Motorola website quantities last, the evaluation board, with all support documentation and peripherals, will be available at no cost to those cost registering on the Motorola website.

The CodeWarrior Development Studio Special Edition for the 68HC908QT/QY series, mentioned above, is also included.

The evaluation board used in conjunction with the CodeWarrior Development Studio offers customers a comprehensive application development, debugging, programming and testing environment.

Motorola also offers 68HC08 web-based training as part of a wide range of services that make it easy for customers to design-in and use Motorola microcontrollers.

Customers can leverage a large library of application notes; more than 500 online, searchable technical MCU Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers; a growing library of complete reference designs, and free, downloadable, high-quality development software, such as an auto code generator from Aisys.

A large base of Motorola and third party hardware and software development tools are available for the 68HC08 and all Motorola microcontroller families.

The Nitron 68HC908Q-series products are available now in production quantities.

Suggested list prices in 10,000-piece quantities start at US$00.70.

The Metrowerks CodeWarrior Development Studio Special Edition for the 68HC908QT/QY series is available at no charge to registered users of Motorola's website and on CDROM (order CDCWSEHC08/D).

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 28 September 2002).

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 28 September 2002)

• Freescale Semiconductor: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites

Put your news on Electronicstalk  |   Advertise  |   Get the free Electronicstalk newsletter
Electronicstalk Home  |   About Electronicstalk  |   Copyright © 2000-2007 Pro-Talk Ltd, UK