eeProductCenter Ultimate Products 3.2: Processors and Memory
(1) TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI’s automotive MCU employs two ARM Cortex R4 cores eeProductCenter says: “Texas Instruments has turned to the ARM Cortex R4 as the microcontroller core for its new TMS570 MCU for automotive safety applications. The TMS570 MCU platform uses two identical Cortex R4 cores combined with an initial two Mbytes of on–chip flash memory. Targeted applications include chassis control, braking/electronic vehicle stability and steering with higher and lower memory and performance variations planned. The dual cores are tightly coupled by a patent pending architecture for maximum reliability, while memory is protected by Error–Correcting Code (ECC) bit checking.”
Readers say:
» “Dual core MCUs have been used in Continental products for many years.”
» “This may be a target for the rest of the high end automotive MCU guys to shoot for.”
» “Very interesting product.”
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) TOSHIBA AMERICA ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS Toshiba launches MIPS–based SoCs for digital TV apps eeProductCenter says: “Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC) has expanded its TC904XX family of single–chip system–on–a–chip (SoC) solutions for mid–range and low–end digital TV applications. A driving force is the Congressional mandate that U.S. broadcast television service completely convert to digital terrestrial transmission by 2009.”
Readers say:
» “I feel this will push our progress forward into digital cable with ease.”
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) ATMEL ARM9 MCU touts 41.6 Gbps on–chip bandwidth eeProductCenter says: “Atmel Corp.’s newest ARM926EJ–S – based microcontroller packs the peripherals enabling on–chip data transfer rates of up to 41.6 Gbps. The newest member of Atmel’s SAM9 family, the AT91SAM9263 employs 27 DMA channels including Atmel’s 18–channel peripheral DMA controller, a nine layer bus matrix, and two additional busses for data– and instruction–tightly–coupled–memories, that boost CPU performance and on–chip data transfer rates of up to 41.6 Gbps. Two external bus interfaces (EBIs) allow support for GByte–plus external memories.”
Readers say:
» “Very good.”
USABILITY RANK: 5
(4) ANALOG DEVICES ADI previews Blackfin DSPs with Lockbox secure technology eeProductCenter says: “Analog Devices, Inc. will come to Electronica, here this week (nov. 13) previewing the newest members of its Blackfin DSP family, targeted at multimedia/networked in–vehicle automotive among other applications. “Our newest Blackfin family brings developers more of what they need to design performance–hungry and connectivity–ready electronics for a variety of markets, including automotive and industrial,” said John Croteau, general manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. (Norwood, Mass.) According to Croteau, the company’s new ADSP BF54x family offers a balance of increased I/O and memory bandwidth, on–chip memory, and integration of system peripherals. Automotive applications include digital radio, audio jukebox, navigation, driver assistance, rear seat audio and video and handsfree phone operation.”
Readers say:
» “Bringing security on–chip is a nice feature.”
USABILITY RANK: 7
(5) RAMTRON Ramtron’s 512Kb FRAM offers high–speed SPI interface eeProductCenter says: “Ramtron International Corp.’s FM25L512 is a 512 Kbit 3–volt nonvolatile FRAM device with a high–speed serial peripheral interface. The FM25L512 provides increased data collection and storage capacity in a tiny, 8–pin package, cutting costs and board space in a range of applications from multi–function printers to industrial motor controllers, says Mike Alwais, Ramtron vice president of Marketing. (“System designers can increase data collection capacity without increasing board space in next–generation printer and motor control designs.”)”
Readers say:
» “Getting to 512Kbits is an accomplishment for FRAM. Now getting the price down will make it competitive with traditional solutions such as battery backed SRAM and Serial Flash and EEPROM products.”
USABILITY RANK: 3
(6) DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR Nonvolatile SRAM modules tout integrated reflowable battery eeProductCenter says: “Dallas Semiconductor’s newest nonvolatile SRAM modules integrate a reflowable battery into surface–mountable devices. The wholly owned subsidiary of Maxim Integrated Products has launched the DS2070W+100 (2M x 8 bits) and the DS3070W+100 (2M x 8 bits with an integrated RTC).”
Readers say:
» “Should use a rechargeable battery.”
USABILITY RANK: 4
(7) TENSILICA Tensilica rolls ‘drop–in’ video processor engine eeProductCenter says: “Tensilica Inc. has introduced four new Diamond Standard VDO processor engines customized for multi–standard, multi–resolution video in system–on–chip (SOC) designs, the company said Monday (Dec. 4). According to Tensilica, each of the four Diamond Standard VDO engines are being introduced to meet the varying needs of the market.”
Readers had no comments.
USABILITY RANK: 8
(8) FUJITSU Fujitsu readies H.264 format video–processing IC eeProductCenter says: “Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.’s MB86H50 video processing IC has been designed for real–time compression and decompression of high–definition TV–level video in H.264 format. Scheduled for March 2007 availability, the MB86H50 supports the H.264 High Profile, Level 4.0 standard used in next–generation DVDs. It enables high–resolution recording, playback and transmission of high–definition video on audio–visual products such as portable A/V products, hard disk recorders, and home network equipment.”
Readers had no comments.
USABILITY RANK: 9
(9) FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR Automotive instrumentation cluster MCU touts on–chip TFT display drive eeProductCenter says: “Freescale Semiconductor’s latest 16–bit microcontroller is aimed at the next wave in automotive instrumentation clusters. The MC9S12XHZ512 MCU is said to be the industry’s first instrumentation cluster MCU featuring an integrated thin–film transistor display drive.”
Readers say:
» “TFT drive may be unique in this case for 16–bit CPUs. But may be just what the doctor ordered for existing Freescale customers who need to add LCD capability. The need for an external FPGA for larger displays limits this part’s usefulness. For the larger displays, several vendors offer 32–bit solutions.”
USABILITY RANK: 6
(10) INTEL Intel’s 1Gbit MLC NOR flash targets cell phones eeProductCenter says: “Intel Corp. has launched what said to be the industry’s first 1Gbit, single–chip 65nm multi–level cell (MLC) NOR flash memory for cell phones. The memory device is available in volume quantities, according to Intel.”
Readers say:
» “65nm MLC at 128Megabytes is quite an accomplishment and should provide a more reliable cost effective competitor to NAND in embedded applications.”
