Based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, the S1C31W74 microcontroller is sampling. This is Epson’s first in a new series of energy-efficient microcontrollers with integrated 32bit flash memory.
According to the company, the combination of the energy-efficient ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, and the company’s own low leak process and circuit technology helps to enable powerful microcontrollers with modest power requirements, thus extending battery life.
The S1C31W74 consumes only 900nA in RTC mode and 150µA/MHz in run mode, and can operate up to two times longer on battery power than one of the company’s original core 32bit flash microcontrollers. This energy efficiency is a step closer, says the company, to realising smart watches that do not require recharging and IoT terminals for environmental monitoring applications, where power consumption is a critical factor.
The microcontroller is a single chip, housed in a 1mm thick VFBGA8HX-181 package. The IC includes an LCD driver that can directly display up to 2,304 dots, a USB 2.0 full-speed device controller, 512kbytes of flash memory, and 128kbytes of RAM. It is also offered as a bare chip.
An optional evaluation kit includes an evaluation board, debug probe and an IDE, based on IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM.
The microcontrollers are sampling now, with volume production scheduled for July 2016.
http://www.epson-electronics.de
Power
Power management chip extends battery and shelf life
Designers can optimise power and battery life for wearable medical/fitness and IoT applications, using the MAX14720 PMIC, says Maxim Integrated. It can be used for non-rechargeable battery (coin cell, dual alkaline) applications where size and energy efficiency are critical. An electronic battery seal also extends shelf life by effectively disconnecting the battery prior to initial power-up.
It also reduces bill of materials with the functionality of five discrete devices – power switch, linear regulator, buck regulator, buck-boost regulator, and monitor, says the company.
Smallest, lowest power battery management extends lifetime of wearables
Claimed to deliver the industry’s lowest quiescent current, 700nA, and a buck converter, operating at 1.8V, the bq25120 is an integrated battery management IC from Texas Instruments.
Self-powered serial EEPROM targets IoT and battery markets
A single-wire EEPROM with only two-pins (data pin and ground pin) are aimed at IoT, wearables, consumable, battery and cable identification markets. The AT21CS01 from Atmel is self-powered, eliminating the need for a power source or Vcc pin, with a parasitic power scheme over the data pin. They are claimed to provide best-in-class, low power standby of 700nA, 200µA for write current and 80µA for read current at 25°C.
The device’s parasitic power scheme over a single data pin eliminates the need for external capacitors and rectifiers, says the company. The high write endurance capability allows more than one million cycles for each memory location to meet the requirements for today’s high-write endurance applications.
A plug-and-play 64bit unique serial number in every device, makes it suitable for connected devices including smart fitness bands and healthcare devices. ESD is described as industry leading (IEC 61000-4-2 Level 4 ESD compliant), making it suitable for applications such as cables required to tolerate exposure to the outside environment or direct human contact.
Using a single pin from the MCU/MPU without the need to route the Vcc to the device saves “significant” board space saving and simplified layout.
Following the I2C protocol, the EEPROM facilitate migration from existing EEPROM with less overhead and capability to connect up to eight devices on the same bus, claims the company. In addition to a security register with a 64bit factory programmed serial number, an extra 16 bytes of user programmable and permanently lockable storage, guarantees the unique serial number for inventory tracking, asset tagging and to permanently protect the data if needed.
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