Phones: New Motorola 68HC08 MCU with FLASH Memory Offers Cost-Effective Solution for Cordless Phones - 68HC908W32 microcontroller - Product Announcement

EDGE, On & About AT&T, April 5, 1999

Designers of medium and high-end cordless and residential telephones can create highly cost-effective designs using a new Motorola microcontroller (MCU) introduced Monday with a newly developed 32K FLASH memory onboard.

Called the 68HC908W32, the unit incorporates an 8-bit 68HC08 MCU with 32K of FLASH memory for programming flexibility and is designed to provide virtually all of the logic except for RF functions for cordless phones.

The 68HC908W32, which was developed at Motorola's Taiwan Design Center, is an extension of Motorola's 68HC05 F-family of 8-bit microcontrollers that have proved popular with FLASH-based devices and provides a more cost-effective solution, yet is high performance and compatible with the 68HC05 F-family.

"The FLASH memory technology of the 68HC908W32 is designed to provide a quick and easy process for flexible programming in telephony applications," says Stephen Wong, director of Motorola's Asia/Pacific Microcontroller Division operations. "This enables the customer to revise their software easily by re-programming the same MCU device, thus lower product cost, enhancing flexibility and reducing new product time to market."

The high performance 8-bit 68HC08 core operates at a 2.49 MHz bus frequency. The CPU core offers 5x the performance compared with the earlier 68HC05 CPU used in the F-family. The object code for the 68HC08 is fully upward compatible with the earlier generation. The 68HC908W32 features a 16-bit 4-channel timer and 16-bit auto-reloadable timer. Each channel can be configured either as output compare, input capture or PWM.

The 68HC908W32 also offers features such as a DTMF/melody generator, power ring detector, serial peripheral interface modules and low power design which are designed to provide a cost effective, yet fully featured solution for designers of medium to high-end telephones and cordless phones.

Other key features of the W32 include:

* 3 V /- 10% Vdd operation

* 'C' code compatible

* 37 General Purpose I/O pins including: 12 shared I/;

* 2 Low power modes: WAIT and STOP with low power consumption at 5 microAmps

The 68HC908W32 is available in two packaging configurations, 44-pin TQFP (MC68HC908W32FB) and 28-pin SOIC (MC68HC908W32DW). In particular, the 28-pin device offers telephony appliance designers with an even more cost-effective solution. Samples for both devices are available now with production in 2Q99. Suggested list price for the MC68HC908W32FB in 10KU quantities is US$5.00 per unit and the MC68HC908W32DW is US$4.50 per unit in 10KU quantities. Designers can download the databook from the Motorola web site: http://www.mcu.motsps.com

The 68HC908W32 is fully supported by development tools and software, including an emulation system. For a complete emulation system order an EM board (X68EML08W32), platform board (M68MMPFB0508), cable (M68CBL05C), and target head (M68TC08W32FB44 for 44-pin TQFP or M68TC08W32DW28 for 28-pin SOIC). For a complete programming system order a programmer (M68HC705UPGMR) and adapter (M68UPA08W32FB44 for 44-pin TQFP or M68UPA08W32DW28 for 28-pin SOIC).

Additional members of the 68HC908xx FLASH-based MCUs will be introduced in 1999. Future FLASH-based memory MCUs will target applications such as computer peripherals, home appliances, as well as general-purpose uses. The device family is expected to provide different memory sizes to suit a variety of application requirements. Each family member will utilize the same CPU core to ensure software compatibility.

As the world's No. 1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector offers multiple DigitalDNA solutions which enable its customers to create new business opportunities in the consumer, networking and computing, transportation, and wireless communications markets. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $7.3 billion (USD) in l998. http://sps.motorola.com

Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1998 were $29.4 (USD) billion. FMI: http://www.motorola.com.