Specialised computing boosts efficiency

RS has released 683 new products from twelve manufacturers of embedded control devices and peripherals.

RS Components has released embedded control devices, systems that use a microprocessor or microcontroller (MCU) to do a specific task.

This arrangement differs from that found in a PC, which is designed to perform multiple tasks.

Embedded computers are often built into the devices they control, for example, cameras, MP3 players, automotive ECUs and industrial robots.

Even trivial tasks can benefit from having some form of close control and monitoring, particularly as connectivity and energy-efficiency become increasingly important.

RS has released 683 new products from twelve manufacturers of Embedded Control devices and peripherals, including Microchip, Texas Instruments, Cypress, Freescale, Infineon, STMicroelectronics, Ramtron, FTDL, ISSI, Spansion and WIZnet.

One of the benefits of contemporary MCUs is the high level of integration that they offer.

MCUs now incorporate many internal devices that were once external and thus needed additional parts.

These System-on-Chips (SoCs) have 8, 16 or 32bit microcontrollers at their heart.

Gary Jackson, Senior Account Manager, Europe Region at STMicroelectronics, said: "The STM32 is one of the most exciting developments in the microcontroller industry for years".

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