Flash MCUs cut out external components

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jan 13, 2005

Zilog has extended its Z8 Encore! Flash microcontroller family to include devices with 1, 2 and 4Kbyte of Flash program memory and 1Kbyte register RAM.

Zilog has extended its Z8 Encore! Flash microcontroller family to include devices with 1, 2 and 4Kbyte of Flash program memory and 1Kbyte register RAM.

The new general-purpose devices are particularly suitable for designing into low cost, 8bit microcontroller applications such as motor control and electronic lightning, and in products such as home appliances, security systems, sensors and personal electronic devices.

Key features of the new 4K Series of Z8 Encore! devices include Zilog's easy to use register-to-register based architecture, and an on-chip precision internal oscillator that eliminates the need for external components.

As all RAM locations are accumulators, single-register bottlenecks are eliminated.

In addition, the new devices feature an optional eight-channel 10bit A/D convertor, a new single-pin debugger and programming interface that simplifies code development and facilitates easy in-circuit Flash programming and debugging, and a full-duplex UART that provides serial communications and IrDA encoding and decoding capabilities.

Other features include: two 16bit timers with PWMs and capture and compare, a watchdog timer, up to 24 general-purpose I/Os, 18 vectored interrupts, power-on reset and voltage brown-out, and on-chip debug with break and trap capability The operating voltage of the new Z8 Encore! devices spans 2.7 to 3.6V with 5V-tolerant I/Os.

Available in both standard (0 to 70C) and extended (-40 to +105C) temperature ranges, the devices are suitable for a wide range of operating environments.

In common with other members of the Zilog Z8 Encore! family, the latest additions are available in the standard 28 and 20-pin SOIC, PDIP and SSOP packages.

The 4K Series of Z8 Encore! devices is supported by a very affordable development kit, which includes a development board, Smart Cable, 5V DC power supply and comprehensive suite of software supplied on CD-ROM.

The software suite comprises Zilog's ZDS II-Z8 Encore! IDE with ANSI C compiler, sample code and a document browser.

Full product documentation is also supplied.

The new 4K Series of Z8 Encore! devices are priced at $0.85 for the 1Kbyte device in 20-pin SOIC and $1.00 for the 4Kbyte device in 28-pin SOIC, in 10,000-off quantities.