Motorola Hybrid Controllers Deliver Exceptional Performance for Automotive and Industrial Environments
Flash-based 56F8300 series reduces development headaches and operates at 32-bit level without added costs
PHOENIX, Sept. 22 -- Motorola, Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) has pushed the limits of performance with the introduction of the first members of its new hybrid controller series. The 56F8300 series integrates signal processing, fast flash memory and clock speed into a 16-bit package. This capability allows automotive and industrial designers to use the devices in applications previously considered the domain of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs).
Pairing High Performance with Easier Design
The 56F8300 series offers both signal processing and MCU instructions, while maintaining the fundamental ease of system design inherent in MCUs. The 56F8300 series executes code from its third-generation flash at up to 60 MIPS (millions of instructions per second) without utilizing any acceleration technology.
Enhanced input/output (I/O) capability provides additional design flexibility. The first 56F8300 devices offer up to 76 GPIO (general purpose I/O) and between 32 KB to 256 KB high performance flash program memory on chip with capability to support up to 32 MB off chip. Future members of the 56F8300 series will offer up to 512 KB of program flash.
Designers can reduce development costs by using these 16-bit high-performing devices in applications that typically require the more costly 32-bit MCUs.
Enabling Next-Generation Functions
Many automotive systems have shifted from being mechanically to electronically driven, with a typical car on the road today having 60-80 electronic control unit (ECU) processors. According to industry analyst firm Strategy Analytics, automobile production growth rates are expected to be outpaced three-fold by the increase in automotive-related MCUs over the next five years.
The 56F8300 series can help drive that future. High-performance capabilities allow these hybrid controllers to help enable "drive-by-wire" functionality such as electronic power assisted steering (EPAS), torque, braking and traction control and occupant detection. The devices can also apply to other sophisticated, non-automotive applications such as electronic currency recognition for vending machines, continual power supply for industrial-grade motors, even healthcare equipment applications such as bone growth stimulation.
Weathering Harsh Conditions on the Road or in the Factory
The 56F8300 series is designed to withstand harsh environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures, heavy surrounding debris and abrasive movements like vibration and shock. The extended temperature capabilities enable the first six devices to operate at a range of -40 to 125 degrees Celsius. This makes the 56F8300 series suitable for applications beyond the automotive realm including, aeronautics, aviation and heavy industry.
Increasing Application Safety and Security
The 56F8300 series includes controller-level safety focused functions that help reduce overall device count and system costs. These include an integrated temperature sensor for component temperature monitoring, multiple fault conditions for system flexibility without compromising system safety, built-in write protection registers for critical functionality, and on-chip clock synthesis that allows graceful shutdown to prevent system damage.
An integrated FlexCAN module offering full CAN (controller area network) capability handles all networking communication for improved networking performance and reliability. The devices also include a flash security feature to help prevent unauthorized reproduction of customers' data and system power saving features.
Speeding System Development
The new 56F8300 devices can be evaluated in Motorola's MC56F8300DSK demonstration board. This board comes complete with the Metrowerks CodeWarrior(TM) Development Studio for 56800 and demonstration code to help system designers quickly learn about the 56F8300 series.
The Metrowerks CodeWarrior tool suite also includes the Processor Expert(TM) auto-code generator, which is designed to dramatically reduce development time, improve code quality and speed time to market. It also eases the process of integrating application code to different MCUs in the Motorola controller continuum.
Price and Availability
The first six devices in the 56F8300 family are sampling and are currently available for prototyping. Several more 56F8300 devices are planned for introduction in 2004 and beyond. The initial six devices being introduced feature flash memory from 32 KB to 256 KB, extended temperature capabilities (-40 to 125 degrees Celsius) and general purpose I/O configurations ranging from 21 to 62 I/O.
Suggested resale pricing for these devices in 10,000-piece quantities is: MC56F8322 (32 KB flash, $8.13 (USD); MC56F8323 (32 KB flash, $8.48 (USD); MC56F8345 (128 KB flash, $12.95 (USD); MC56F8346 (128 KB flash, $13.40 (USD); MC56F8356 (256 KB flash, $15.87 (USD); and MC56F8357 (256 KB flash, $15.93 (USD).
The demonstration board is available at a suggested resale price of $79 (USD). This includes the complimentary Metrowerks CodeWarrior Development Studio for 56800, with Processor Expert auto code generator. For more information about these products and the services and support available for them, visit: www.motorola.com/mcu.
About Metrowerks
Metrowerks Corporation creates CodeWarrior software and hardware products and services for developers, with a particular focus on the following industries: consumer electronics; transportation; wireless; and networking and communications. The CodeWarrior product line includes development tools and middleware that enable customers to decrease their time to market. The company also offers services, including training, developer programs and custom software engineering. Founded in 1985, Metrowerks is today an independently operating subsidiary of Motorola, Inc. . Metrowerks corporate headquarters are in Austin, Texas; Metrowerks Europe is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland; and Metrowerks Japan is headquartered in Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.metrowerks.com/
About Motorola, Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector
As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA(TM) system-on-chip solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on wireless communications and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, safer and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $5.0 billion (USD) in 2002. For more information please visit www.motorola.com/semiconductors.
About Motorola, Inc.
Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important technologies that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit: www.motorola.com.
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