May
18, 1998 Design News
Hot Products
Senior Editor Julie Anne
Schofield picks noteworthy microprocessors
Processor adds network connection
Connecting products to the Internet or Ethernet just
got easier with Osicom's NET+ARM device. The chip consolidates
all the hardware and software subsystems engineers need
to add network connectivity to their products in a single
device. According to the company, NET+ARM technology
will help OEMs shave six months off time to market,
cut unit costs by 50%, and simplify design when network-enabling
products. Hardware includes Advanced Risc Machines Ltd.'s
(ARM's) 32-bit RISC processor and Atmel Corp.'s core
logic; software includes Integrated Systems' pSOS real-time
operating system and Osicom's networking and web-enabling
software, which includes 10/100BaseT-Ethernet and Internet
protocols, HTTP and FTP client and server, web browser,
mail servers, and a host of drivers and interfaces.
Already, several printer OEMs--including NEC, Sharp,
Minolta, and Kyocera--have chosen NET+ARM for their
next generation of network printers.
Osicom Technologies
Alpha to break gigahertz barrier
The third generation of Digital's Alpha 64-bit microprocessor
will break the gigahertz speed barrier by the year 2000,
say company sources. Performance of the Alpha 21264
family is expected to begin at an estimated 40 SPECint95
and 60 SPECfp95 and reach more than 100 SPECint95 and
150 SPECfp95 in the next couple of years. The 21264
instructions include Motion Video Instructions (MVI)
to enhance visual computing and multimedia performance
through improved motion estimation in software. High-performance
servers and workstations based on the first family member
should be available this summer.
Digital Equipment Corp.
Controller packs128-kbyte flash
Hitachi has added 128 kbytes of 5V flash memory to
its H8S series of 16-bit microcontrollers to accommodate
complex programs. The new H8S/2144 and H8S/2134 operate
at up to 20 MHz and have eight power-saving modes to
suit portable applications. Peripherals include ADCs,
DACs, timers, and support for IrDA and smart-card interfaces.
Applications include cellular phones, disk drives, airbag-deployment
control, industrial control, and smart-card readers.
The company's 8-bit H8/300 chips are upwardly compatible
with the H8S series instruction set, enabling OEMs to
easily upgrade to 16-bit performance while lowering
power consumption.
Hitachi Semiconductor
8-bit controllers use proven design
SGS-Thomson has launched a family of 8-bit microcontrollers
based on an architecture that up to now had been used
only internally to produce application-specific devices
for PC monitors, remote controls, CD players, and car
radios. The new ST72 core can run at double speed, comes
in one-time-programmable versions, and offers low-voltage
detection and high electrical noise immunity. On-chip
memory ranges from 128 to 1,024 bytes of RAM and 4 kbytes
of program memory to 32 kbytes or ROM/EPROM and 256
bytes of EEPROM. Peripherals include 8-bit multichannel
DAC, SPI, I2C, USB, and CAN interfaces; a programmable
watchdog timer, and one or two 16-bit timers. Applications
include washing machines, food processors, power tools,
and alarms.
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics
Controller costs less than four bits
Fifty cents goes much farther than it used to in the
8-bit microcontroller market. Microchip is selling the
PIC16C505 one-time-programmable (OTP) part for 49 cents,
and the PIC16CR54C ROM device for 40 cents. The 14-pin
parts provide an upward migration path to increased
I/O capability for designs based on the company's 8-pin
controllers. The OTP part sports 1,024312 words of program
memory, 7238 bytes of user RAM, 12 I/O pins, and a 4-MHz
internal clock oscillator. The ROM version offers 512312
words of ROM program memory, 25 bytes of user RAM, and
12 I/O pins. Both operate from 2.5 to 5.5V, use 33 single-word
instructions, and offer a full-speed 200-nsec instruction
cycle at 20 MHz. Microchip Technology
DSP to rival micro controllers
Texas Instruments is gunning for the traditional microcontroller
market with its new 100-MIPS TMS320C2700 DSP architecture.
The goal: to make microcontrollers obsolete for real-time
embedded applications. The idea is that the DSP's combination
of signal processing and control functions will let
designers replace two processors with one or upgrade
a microcontroller-based system to DSP performance while
eliminating such supporting functions as sensors and
ASICs and writing real-time application software in
a high-level language.
Texas Instruments
RISC architecture targets portables
Motorola has introduced the first part to be based
on its new MCORE microRISC architecture. The MMC2001
is a general-purpose ultralow-power microcontroller
integrated with standard peripherals and targeted for
battery-powered portable applications. It achieves sustained
performance of 31 MIPS with an internal clock speed
of 33 MHz operating from a 1.8V supply. Instructions
are 16 bits and are executed via an internal 32-bit
data path. Designers optimized the 2001 for low-cost
16-bit memory, but the external bus can also use 8-
or 32-bit devices. First production samples of the chip
will be available in the third quarter, but Motorola
is already claiming $1.6 billion in total MCORE architecture
design wins.
Motorola
Processor targets hand held PCs
Engineers have tuned the newest member of Toshiba's
TX SystemRISC family of 32-bit MIPS-based processors
for high-performance PDAs (personal digital assistants)
and interactive communications applications. The TMPR3922U
is a 166-MHz, 2.5V microprocessor with power-management
features to conserve battery life. A high-speed multiplier
and accumulator (MAC) executes 32332-bit multiplies
with a 64-bit accumulation in a single clock cycle to
support software modems and various memory controllers.
Interfaces include ISDN, RS-232C, IrDA, and PCMCIA.
An integrated translation look aside buffer (TLB) is
on chip to support Microsoft's Windows CE operating
system. Toshiba is also offering a TMPR3922U reference
system for OEMs developing Windows CE products, as well
as support tools and software.
Toshiba America Electronic Components
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