Freescale Announces Next-Generation Digital Signal Controllers
Freescale Semiconductor announced the first family in its next-generation digital signal controller (DSC) portfolio, the MC56F84xx, which integrates high-speed analog functionality with an efficient 32-bit digital signal processor core to provide precise and accurate digital control for power supplies (digital power conversion) and motors. The MC56F84xx family’s performance, precision, accuracy and control capabilities help increase system stability for these types of applications.
Increased system stability for motor control applications results in motors that run more efficiently and quietly (in a dishwasher or other appliance, for example). The benefits of increased system stability for power supplies include reduced energy waste and heat. When less heat is generated, designers can reduce costs and system size. For example, a server room with power supplies that generate less heat requires less energy for cooling, and circuit board designs that have less heat to dissipate can be smaller (improved power density), reducing system size and cost and allowing "miniaturization" of the application.
"With increased awareness and concern about worldwide energy use, designers are seeking ways to minimize energy consumption," said Reza Kazerounian, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller Solutions Group. "Digital signal controller technology is ideal for helping improve energy efficiency, and Freescale’s next-generation DSCs are leading the way. With the MC56F84xx family, we have re-examined and improved every aspect of a DSC -- upgrading the core to 32 bits, increasing peripheral flexibility and precision and simplifying design methodologies -- to provide our customers a faster, smarter way to manage energy use."
The MC56F84xx family is targeted at high-end digital power supplies, such as those used for servers in data centers. Improving the energy efficiency of data centers will become increasingly critical as businesses and consumers continue the migration to Cloud computing. As Cloud use increases during the next few years, the average size of the data centers that host the Cloud infrastructure also will grow dramatically, in turn increasing energy consumption.
The MC56F84xx family is well suited for helping reduce energy waste in traditional industrial applications and lighting systems, as well as the next generation of energy generators, such as solar power.
Sample quantities of the MC56F84xx family are expected to be available in Q4 2011 from Freescale and its distribution partners. Suggested resale pricing starts under $2 (USD) in 10,000-piece quantities.
More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.
