Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Semtech | Subject: SH3000 MicroBuddy
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 08 November 2002
Microcontroller companion integrates
five in one
The SH3000 MicroBuddy is a microcontroller companion IC that integrates a complete suite of support functions.
The SH3000 MicroBuddy is a microcontroller companion IC that integrates a complete suite of support functions aimed at simplifying system design, lowering system cost, reducing circuit board real-estate, increasing functionality, and dramatically cutting power consumption in most applications Patents are pending on this unique device, which melds a low-Vdd and power-on reset function, watchdog timer, clock management system, real-time clock, and wake-up timer in a 16-lead microleaded package (MLP) that measures a mere 3 x 3 x 0.9mm
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 16 Jul 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Offering a range of functions that outstrip those of competitive devices, the SH3000 MicroBuddy will find applications in a broad spectrum of micro-driven products including portable devices, home automation and security systems, consumer products, utility monitoring equipment, networking and industrial applications.
"MicroBuddy can be used with any microprocessor, microcontroller, DSP or ASIC", explains Larry King, vice president of HID and System Management products for Semtech.
"Engineers looking to simplify, enhance, and cut the cost of their product designs will appreciate this single chip solution; there's nothing else available like it".
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MicroBuddy's low-Vdd reset is preconfigured to 2.7V, and is software programmable from 2.3 to 4.4V.
It features active high and active low reset outputs, unsurpassed stability and 6ms reset time.
The short reset time is possible since the built-in clock management system starts to supply a stable clock before reset is released.
The watchdog timer provides timeout periods from 7.8125ms to 1s or 256 to 32768 cycles of the processor's clock.
It is kept inactive by alternating periodic write operations, making it more secure than ordinary watchdog timers that simply look for a toggle on an I/O pin.
Should the watchdog time out, it resets the target microcontroller.
The clock management system, which replaces a crystal or ceramic resonator, features a frequency synthesizer, which can be set to 32kHz or any frequency from 62.5kHz to 16MHz with 2kHz resolution.
MicroBuddy maintains +/-0.5% frequency stability over the full temperature range with no external components.
As well, it can be locked to the 32.768kHz crystal of the real-time clock system for +/-256ppm accuracy.
SH3000 senses when the micro issues a stop command and stops the clock automatically.
For controllers that lack the ability to stop their own oscillator, MicroBuddy can be commanded to stop its clock, which restarts when the wake-up timer expires.
When the host processor resumes operations, the clock restarts near instantaneously (less than 2us), at the exact frequency without any settling or instability.
This feature can produce dramatic reduction of power consumption and is not available on any other IC.
The real-time clock features a 170-year calendar, resolution to 1/256s, and accuracy of +/-2min/year at room temperature.
The frequency of the 32.768kHz crystal oscillator can be tuned with resolution of +/-4ppm.
The programmable wake-up timer, which helps reduce power consumption, ranges from 30.5us to 36.4h with 30.5us resolution.
It can be used to produce periodic interrupts or alarms that wake up the host micro.
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