Freescale Ramps Production of 16-Bit HCS12X Microcontroller Family2 July 2005
Freescale Semiconductor's (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) HCS12X family of 16-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) is now available to the general market. The HCS12X family offers an easy performance upgrade (up to 40MHz) for current HCS12 MCU customers and gives new customers a powerful and flexible platform to develop complex control systems for industrial applications.
In many embedded systems, a significant portion of microcontroller performance is spent responding to real-time interrupt events. Typically, the only resource available for processing these events is the central processing unit (CPU), which must work to meet the application's processing and response-time requirements as expected.
The HCS12X family features an industry first -- the XGATE module. This versatile, efficient co-processor is designed specifically to handle interrupt events without intervention by the CPU. Running from random access memory (RAM) at twice the clock speed of the CPU (80MHz), the XGATE relieves the CPU from executing time-consuming interrupt handlers, allowing it to concentrate on application-related tasks. This powerful combination results in optimal real-time event processing and streamlined system performance.
Applications that can benefit from the HCS12X include high-performance printers, instrumentation control, intelligent sensor filtering in industrial and automotive applications, medical networking, radio communications and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
Delivering High Performance
The performance and efficiency of the HCS12X family is greatly increased by an enhanced CPU with 172 additional instructions for improved memory mapping, code efficiency and 32-bit calculations. The family also maintains a high degree of pin and code compatibility with the HCS12 family.
"The combination of enhanced CPU and the XGATE co-processor gave us performance levels from the HCS12X that normally would be expected of 32-bit controllers," said Jonathan Sawyer, founder and CTO, FreeWave Technologies, Inc. "What's more, retaining the inherent advantages of a 16-bit solution, such as code-size efficiency, low power consumption, smaller footprint, reduced purchasing and development costs and a roadmap to 50MHz, makes the HCS12X well-suited for complex yet cost-sensitive embedded spread spectrum radio applications. The HCS12X family represents the fourth generation of Freescale 16-bit MCUs used by FreeWave."
Speeding System Development
Freescale offers two development platforms for product designers:
-- DEMO9S12XDT512: a simple, yet highly functional, demonstration board for quick and easy application development using the MC9S12XDT512 MCU.
-- EVB9S12XDP512: a more powerful evaluation board that includes the needed tools to fully utilize the main peripherals of the MC9S12XDP512 MCU.
The HCS12X family is upwardly code compatible with the HCS12 family, allowing developers with previous systems based on the HCS12 to reuse design tools for their new HCS12X applications.
Freescale offers comprehensive software and tools solutions through partnerships with world-class suppliers, including Cosmic Software and SofTec Microsystems, as well as many other independent suppliers. Freescale also offers the CodeWarrior(TM) Development Studio for HCS12X with XGATE, featuring support for development in C, C++ and assembly languages, and offering full visibility of all cores and processes.
HCS12X microcontroller features
-- 512KB flash memory (planned versions target 32KB to 1MB flash)
-- 40MHz enhanced CPU
-- XGATE module
-- 32KB RAM and 4KB electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)
-- Up to 5x controller area network (CAN) communications interface (HCS12XD only)
-- Up to 6x serial communications interface/local interconnect network (SCI/LIN), 3x serial peripheral interface (SPI), 2x inter-IC bus (I2C) communications interfaces
-- Advanced interrupt features
-- Enhanced capture timer
-- Priority interrupt timer
-- 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
-- 8-channel pulse width modulation (PWM)
-- On-chip single-wire background debug mode (BDM) with trace buffer
-- Qualified temperature ranges of -40 to +125 degrees C
XGATE co-processor functionality
-- Peripheral co-processor
-- Programmable direct memory access (DMA) controller
-- Real-time interrupt handler
-- Virtual peripheral controller
Price and availability
-- HCS12XD (with CAN): available now in a 112-pin low-profile quad flat package (LQFP) at a manufacturer's suggested resale price (MSRP) starting at $10.58 (USD) each in 10,000-unit quantities
-- HCS12XA (without CAN): available now in a 112-pin LQFP starting at an MSRP of $9.34 (USD) each in 10,000-unit quantities
-- DEMO9S12XDT512 demonstration board: MSRP of $75 (USD)
-- EVB9S12XDP512 evaluation board: MSRP of $395 (USD)
Source: Business Wire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Related Computer Hardware Articles
|
