Micros
Lenovo smartphone utilises NXP's ultra-low-power MCU
The Lenovo VIBE X2 Pro smartphone, due to be released in April this year, will use the LPC54100 series of MCUs from NXP Semiconductors for always-on sensor processing applications. Lenovo selected this MCU for its processing power and power efficiency to maximise battery life while supporting today's popular and innovative always-on sensor-based features.
MCU family supported by choice of free IDEs
STMicroelectronics says that choosing one of its STM32 MCUs is the easiest way for innovators to bring products to life, now that designers can choose from three IDEs from leading vendors, which are free of charge and deployed in close co-operation with ST. Users can choose between Eclipse-based IDEs such as CooCox CoIDE or Ac6 System Workbench for STM32, and the MDK-ARM environment.
MCUs enter next wave of growth thanks to the IoT & wearables
The outlook for MCUs continues to strengthen following a sharp recovery in smartcards, gradual improvements in the global economy, and the emergence of new embedded-systems applications, such as wearable electronics and the IoT. These market factors, along with steady growth in automotive and portable electronics, will drive up MCU sales by 6% in 2015 to a new record-high level of $16.8bn after a 5% increase in 2014, according to IC Insights&rsqu...
Development platform available for full MCU range
Designers targeting any of STMicroelectronics’ STM32 MCUs can now leverage the speed and convenience of the STMCube software development platform, which has now completed rolling out to all STM32 MCU family series currently in production. STM32Cube enables a quick and easy start with any STM32 device and simplifies porting of code from one product series to another, shown in the video below.
Adding programmable logic blocks to MCUs
Adding programmable logic blocks to MCUs offers some interesting benefits, as Sally Ward-Foxton discovers for ES Design magazine.
16-bit micro family targets smart meters
The MSP430i202x Mixed Signal Microcontroller Family from Texas Instruments is on sale at Mouser Electronics. This low power 16MHz 16‑bit RISC microcontroller has up to four 24‑bit sigma‑delta analogue‑to‑digital converters (ADCs) with differential programmable gain amplifier (PGA) Inputs. Additional features include a hardware multiplier, 75nA shutdown mode, and a temperature sensor.
Europe's first MCU Car Rally for students
At embedded world 2015, Renesas Electronics Europe will announce the final of its MCU Car Rally competition for university students. Almost 100 students across 17 teams from universities and technical colleges all over Europe have spent the past year developing a functioning model racing car based on electronic components and software from Renesas, competing for prizes including racing experiences, tablets and cash vouchers.
MCU series extensions enhance storage & performance
Adding larger memory densities up to 512KB Flash and 80KB SRAM, as well as richer peripherals for high-speed control and off-chip storage, STMicroelectronics has extended its STM32F3 MCU series for high-performance, low cost applications. The STM32F3 series defines the entry point to ST’s ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller portfolio.
MCUs can operate two BLDC motors simultaneously
Expanding its ARM Cortex-M4F based TX04 series, Toshiba Electronics Europe has introduced two MCUs which can operate two BLDC motors simultaneously. The TMPM470FDFG and TMPM475FDFG incorporate two modules, each containing a programmable motor drive, 12-bit ADC and vector engine, ensuring efficient and simultaneous operation.
32-bit MCUs provide 240MHz for real time operation
Doubling CPU operating frequency from 120 to 240MHz, Renesas has extended its RX Family of 32-bit MCUs with the RX71M Group. Developed for use in industrial equipment and described by Renesas as the ‘flagship’ product of the series, the group is available with up to 4MB of on-chip flash memory.