Low-Power Microcontrollers Optimized for Embedded System Control
Lapis Semiconductor, a ROHM Group Company has introduced the ML6101xx series of low-cost, feature-rich, low-power microcontrollers. The new Mini Low Power Microcontrollers are especially well-suited for embedded applications requiring a very small microcontroller that provides high computational performance and dedicated control functions, yet consumes a minimal amount of power. Applications include motor control, energy harvesting sensors and nodes, audio and speech control, smoke and fire detection, security and access control, battery management, home appliances, lighting control, power monitoring and metering, and many other embedded designs.
The Mini LP architecture is made up of a processing core, non-volatile memory and RAM plus several embedded peripheral functions including: GPIO, PWMs, counter/timer blocks, ADCs and comparators. The devices exhibit very low power consumption in both sleep (1uA typical) and operating modes (3.7mA typical), while executing one instruction per clock cycle at up to 8 MHz clock rates. The microcontrollers are unique in having their timing reference circuit completely integrated within the devices, meaning no external crystal or any other components are required.
Some of the devices in the Mini LP Micro series have internal writable Flash ROM, which eliminates the need for external EEPROM for data storage. Their wide supply voltage range (2.7V dc to 5.5Vdc) and temperature range (-40 C to 85 C) allow the Mini LP Micros to be used in battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications located in harsh environments.
The Mini Low Power Microcontroller series consists of the ML6101xx and ML61017x device families. The ML610Q1xx devices (ML610Q100, 101, 102, 104, 111, 112) are available in 10-, 16-, 20- and 30-pin SSOP packages, with the ultra-compact (6.5 mm x 3 mm) 10-pin deice being especially suitable for small form factor products. The ML61017x devices (ML610Q172, 173, 174, 178) have the same features as the ML610Q10x family with the addition of LCD display controllers, making them targeted for applications that require a visual user interface, such as thermostats and watches. These devices are available in 64-, 80-, and 100-pin TQFP packages.
The Mini LP Micros are based on LAPIS Semiconductor’s proprietary 8 bit RISC U8 core, which has been used within LAPIS Semiconductor’s products for over 15 years. The U8 core’s low-cost code creation and debugging tools are available for program development. LAPIS Semiconductor also offers a very flexible and expandable Mini LP Micro Development Kit with expansion sockets that enable easy access to all of the IOs available on the devices.
Pricing is as follows: ML610Q101-NNNMB $0.50 in lots of 10,000 units, ML610Q178-NNNGA $1.50 also in lots of 10,000 units and the Mini LP Micro Development Kits cost $99 each. Samples are currently available with production quantities available within 6 weeks.
