Microcontroller

Hitachi has expanded its Tiny series of single-chip microcontrollers with the H8/3694 series. This comprises six devices that offer higher speed and smaller packages than current models for consumer and industrial applications, in addition to enhanced peripheral functions. The microcontrollers are also available in Flexible Zero Turn-Around Time (F-ZTAT) versions with on-chip flash memory.

The devices are based on Hitachi's H8/300H CPU core and with a 5 V power supply, boast a maximum operating frequency of 20 MHz, 4 MHz higher than current models. This provides increased processing power for the development of high-performance end-products. The microcontrollers also offer a low pin-count up to a maximum of 64 and feature a range of on-chip peripheral functions, including a subclock, timers, 10-bit analogue/digital converter, asynchronous/synchronous serial interfaces, I2C bus interface, and large-current pins.

The devices can be used for a wide range of functions, including main controller in small products to sub-controller in larger products. The devices are suitable for systems that require low noise levels as their internal power supply wiring has been optimised to minimise electro-magnetic interference. They also feature power-on reset and low-voltage detection functions, which can be useful when designing products that are subject to battery power, supply voltage fluctuations or require system protection.

The H8/3694F F-ZTAT version incorporates flash memory that can be programmed and erased with a single power supply.

The E6000 real-time, in-circuit emulator and the E10T, a low cost in-circuit debugging system, support the series. The E6000 has 4 MB of emulation RAM, 256 PC break points and 12 cascadable and complex hardware break points (events).

It also includes a 32 Kcycle and 80 bit wide trace buffer with acquisition and display filtering, execution time measurement and four user logic probes, which can also be used to trigger hardware events.

The E10T uses the on-chip debug facility of the microcontroller. The series is available in a 64-pin LQFP (low profile quad flat package 10 x 10 mm) and a QFP (quad flat package 14 x 14 mm), offering pin compatibility with Hitachi's H8/3664 series. The new series will also be available in two 48-pin LQFPs (10 x 10 mm and 7 x 7 mm) allowing significantly smaller systems to be designed.