A range of 8-bit microcontrollers ideal for motor control applications has been released by Silicon Labs. The new C8051F85x/6x MCUs are ideal for brushless dc motor control applications used in remote-control helicopters and cars, PC and electric fans, electric tools and small appliances. These devices are AEC-Q100-qualified MCUs that can also be used in automotive body electronics applications such as window lifts and power seats.
The devices offer a very high level of integration and processing performance for analogue-intensive and computationally demanding applications such as motor control. The devices feature a high-speed 8051 core that is claimed to be 50 percent faster similar devices available. This high performance is said to enable finer pulse-width modulation (PWM), enhanced motor control efficiency and the ability to execute more complex algorithms for a broad range of motor speeds. These MCUs also support three independent high-resolution PWM channels with a built-in overcurrent protection/fault detection capability specifically targeting motor control and power supply applications.
The MCUs integrate advanced analogue and digital peripherals in a small package and include a 12-bit multi-channel analogue-to-digital converter (ADC), two analogue comparators with programmable hysteresis and response time, and a precise internal voltage reference. The MCUs also feature an integrated precision 24.5MHz low-power oscillator and a low-frequency 80 kHz oscillator, eliminating the need for an external clock or crystal.
An on-chip temperature sensor is able to simplify system calibration without having to add a discrete sensor. Multiple communications peripherals (I2C, SPI and UART) also gives the flexibility to choose peripherals based on application requirements. These features enable users to minimise external components, resulting in lower system cost compared to competing MCUs.
The devices feature a crossbar architecture that enables developers to customise peripherals and pinout placement without the worry of pin conflicts. This crossbar architecture has the potential to simplify PCB routing, minimise PCB layers and ultimately reduce design time and system cost through optimal use of pins.
New complimentary Keil development tools
The company is now offering complimentary Keil development tools for its entire portfolio of 8-bit MCUs and wireless MCUs including the new F85x/6x family. The PK51 Professional Developer’s Kit for the company’s 8-bit MCUs supports new devices with extended memory and instruction sets. Available without time or code size limits, the unrestricted toolkit includes a wide range of build tools such assemblers, C compilers, code linker/locators and object converters for use with the company’s 8-bit MCU products and Microcontroller Studio. This can be can at: www.silabs.com/8bit-software
Silicon Labs
www.silabs.com
