Mixed-signal microcontroller

Maxim has introduced the Q2010, a 16-bit mixed-signal microcontroller with a power-saving stop mode.

This reduces power consumption to 370 nA typical and 6.5 microamps maximum at +85 °C.

Designed on a RISC architecture, the device balances high-speed execution (up to 10 MIPS at 10 MHz) and data sampling (up to 312 kSps ADC conversion at 12 bits) with a low-power active-mode current (3.1 mA, typical, at 10 MHz).

An integrated regulator allows direct operation from a single lithium coin cell at 2.7 to 3.6 V.

The microcontroller is a single chip optimised for battery-powered data acquisition applications. The device’s low-power stop mode makes it valuable in equipment that spends the majority of its life inactive, only waking up once every few minutes to take measurements.

The device has multiple power-saving operating modes. A key feature is its stop mode, which allows the microcontroller to reduce power consumption to less than 400 nA by halting code execution.

Depending on the needs of the application, the integrated LCD controller and real-time clock can optionally remain active during stop mode.

For additional power savings, the Q2010 consumes only 3.1 mA at 10 MHz operation in active mode.

It includes a 12-bit ADC capable of data conversion at up to 312 kSps. Samples are taken from up to eight analog inputs, which can be selected as single-ended inputs and/or differential input pairs.

The ADC includes a 1.5 V ±2% voltage reference and can be configured to automatically capture and buffer sequences of up to 16 samples without processor intervention.

For a user interface, an integrated LCD controller can drive up to 160 segments directly in a ¼-muxed configuration.

A supply-voltage monitor measures the power supply against a programmable threshold from 2.7 to 3.5 V in 0.1 V increments, enabling an application to detect low power and notify the user to replace the battery.

To further reduce system costs, the device uses a 32 kHz crystal to generate the 8.389 MHz system clock and enable the real-time clock peripheral.

For application development, an evaluation kit is available.