Budget microcontroller makes a display of itself

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jan 8, 2002

With 2Kbit of internal OTP memory, the HT49R30A-1 is one of Holtek's latest generation of 8bit general-purpose LCD microcontrollers.

With 2Kbit of internal OTP memory, the HT49R30A-1 is one of Holtek's latest generation of 8bit general-purpose LCD microcontrollers.

As a simplified version of the existing HT49R50A-1, the device uses the same 48SSOP packaging format but provides a lower cost alternative.

The HT49R30A-1 has 96 X 8bit of internal data RAM, 14 I/O pins, LCD driving capability of 18 x 4 or 19 x 3, a four-level stack, one 8bit timer and three kinds of internal interrupt functions.

Other functions are compatible with the HT49R50A-1.

In the low-power mode function, a real-time clock oscillator is provided, giving a means of implementing a timer function when the MCU is in its power down mode.

The device also permits the function of the LCD to remain fully operational when the processor is in its power down mode.

By incorporating a range of ROM LCD options within the microcontroller the interface to the LCD is simplified as the user can select the required bias and com options to match the LCD to be used.

In addition, by using a RAM mapping method, the system to LCD panel interface and operation is made much simpler With these special features, the HT49R30A-1 device is especially equipped for a wide range of LCD display applications such as scales, water meters, electricity meters, gas meters, timers, calculators, remote control devices as well as a range of household appliances etc.

Holtek also supplies a suite of supporting development tools in the form of its HT-IDE2000 development system.

The HT-IDE2000 also incorporates a full LCD panel simulator, eliminating the need to provide an actual LCD display during product development.

The development system is fully capable of real-time emulation of the internal RAM and registers, and provides features such as hardware breakpoints with logical setup functions, full trace facilities etc, providing an effective and efficient means of user program development and debug.

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 7 January 2002).