MC9S08QE8 Microcontrollers for Medical and Portable Devices- Freescale

Freescale has announced the MC9S08QE8 (QE8), a series of ultra-low-power 8-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), designed to enhance portable performance, extend battery life and improve energy efficiency for a wide range of embedded applications. The MC9S08QE8  microcontrollers features stop current of less than 300 nanoamps and run current as low as seven microamps. Operation with low power makes this 8-Bit Microcontrollers ideal for low-end medical devices,  such as home pregnancy tests and blood pressure monitors. QE8 also suitable for portable devices such as cell phone accessories and PDAs.

MC9S08QE8 in 32 pin LQFP

MC9S08QE8 microcontrollers features :

• 8-Bit HCS08 Central Processor Unit (CPU)
  – Up to 20 MHz CPU at 3.6 V to 1.8 V across temperature range of –40°C to 85°C
  – HC08 instruction set with added BGND instruction
  – Support for up to 32 interrupt/reset sources

• On-Chip Memory
  – Flash read/program/erase over full operating voltage and temperature
  – Random-Access memory (RAM)
  – Security circuitry to prevent unauthorized access to RAM and flash contents

•  Power-Saving Modes
  – Two low power stop modes
  – Reduced power wait mode
  – Low power run and wait modes allow peripherals to run while voltage regulator is in standby
  – Peripheral clock gating register can disable clocks to unused modules, thereby reducing currents
  – Very low power external oscillator that can be used in stop2 or stop3 modes to provide accurate clock source to real time counter
  – 6 μs typical wake-up time from stop3 mode

•  Clock Source Options
  – Oscillator (XOSC) — Loop-Control Pierce oscillator; crystal or ceramic resonator range of 31.25 kHz to 38.4 kHz or 1 MHz to16 MHz
  – Internal Clock Source (ICS) — Internal clock source module containing a frequency-locked-loop (FLL) controlled by internal or external reference; precision trimming of internal reference allows 0.2% resolution and 2% deviation over temperature and voltage; supporting bus  frequencies from 1 MHz to 10 MHz

•  System Protection
  – Watchdog computer operating properly (COP) reset with option to run from dedicated 1 kHz internal clock source or bus clock
  – Low-Voltage warning with interrupt
  – Low-Voltage detection with reset or interrupt
  – Illegal opcode detection with reset
  – Illegal address detection with reset
  – Flash block protection

•  Development Support
  – Single-Wire background debug interface
  – Breakpoint capability to allow single breakpoint setting during in-circuit debugging (plus two more breakpoints in on-chip debug module)
  – On-Chip in-circuit emulator (ICE) debug module containing two comparators and nine trigger modes; eight deep FIFO for storing    change-of-flow addresses and event-only data; debug module supports both tag and force breakpoints

The QE8 can run off of an ultra-low-power 32 kHz oscillator that consumes less than one microamp of current. The device also includes battery-saving features, such as two ultra-low-power stop modes, low-power run and wait modes, six microseconds wake-up time from stop3 mode, and clock gating registers to disable clocks or unused peripherals.

Pin and software of MC9S08QE8 are compatible with corresponding devices in Freescale’s MC9S08Qx family of ultra-low-power microcontrollers and with the Flexis QE128 devices. This compatibility along Freescale’s Controller Continuum provides developers with a software compatible roadmap from 8-bit to 32-bit architectures.

Pin Assignment of MC9S08QE8

MC9S08QE8 are supported by Freescale and third-party hardware and software tools. Freescale’s CodeWarrior Development Studio for Microcontrollers 6.1 provides an array of built-in features and utilities to help developers deliver higher-quality products to market faster. The Processor Expert rapid application design tool included in the CodeWarrior tool suite provides a graphical interface to help developers initialize the device easily, for example.

Freescale also offers the DEMO9S08QE8 demonstration board. The kit includes a base board, DC9S08QE8 daughter card, software and demos for an enhanced out–of–the-box experience to help make the QE8 solutions easy to learn and use. The DVD includes software, datasheets, application examples and quick-start guide to help developers get up and running in the design process quickly. The DC9S08QE8 QE8 daughter card also can be ordered independently for only $10 (USD) to use with the DEMOQE128 demonstration kit. Freescale offers extensive resources for low-power design, including application notes, low-power tips and tricks, and online training and webcasts on low-power design.

Pricing:

• Suggested resale price of MC9S08QE8 microcontrollers starts at $1.15 (10K unit qty) .
• The DEMO9S08QE8 demonstration kit is available at a suggested resale price of $69.
• Developers who already have the DEMOQE128 in hand can order the DC9S08QE8 daughter card independently at a suggested resale price as low as $10 USD.

More info : MC9S08QE8 Ultra-Low-Power Microcontrollers - Freescale