NEC Electronics Enables USB Connectivity in Industrial and Consumer Electronics Systems with New 32-Bit Microcontrollers

“We are seeing an increased demand for MCUs that can deliver the higher performance and greater functionality required in systems that are growing ever more complex,” said Shigenobu Ishikawa, General Manager, Multipurpose Micro Controller Systems Division. “USB is arguably the most popular and successful interconnect technology available today, and NEC Electronics’ new 32-bit MCUs now make it easier than ever for designers to add USB capabilities to their target systems.”

Based on NEC Electronics’ 32-bit V850ES core, the MCUs offer four key advantages: single-chip host controller functions, faster execution of instructions per second, concurrent USB drivers for rapid system development and new peripheral functions. Backward compatibility with earlier versions of the V850ES core also means that designers can continue to use their existing software resources and development environments.

The integration of host controller and peripheral controller functions on chip allows engineers to design USB-enabled systems without having to add an external USB device, conserving space and reducing cost. The four chips in the V850ES/JG3-U and V850ES/JH3-U lineups provide both USB host and peripherals control, while the eight chips in the V850ES/JG3-H and V850ES/JH3-H lineups provide USB peripherals control only.

Operation at a clock speed of 48 megahertz (MHz), approximately 1.5 times higher than the 32 MHz operating speed of other MCUs, enables the chips to execute 98 million instructions per second (MIPS), compared to the 69 MIPS executed by MCUs operating at 32 MHz. Like NEC Electronics’ general-purpose V850ES/JG3 andV850ES/JJ3 MCUs, the new products also feature on-chip peripheral functions such as a motor control timer and real-time counter that simplify system design and contribute to lower component counts and smaller board sizes.

NEC Electronics is working with partners to provide USB drivers for both the host and peripheral controllers. Drivers for the peripheral controller are scheduled to be available at no cost.

Standard development tools include NEC Electronics’ IECUBE full-function emulator, MINICUBE on-chip debugger and integrated debugger, compiler and simulator. Two dedicated USB starter kits with basic and advanced functionality, including application drivers, are expected to be available June 2008.

In 2007, NEC Electronics Corporation was ranked the number one supplier of 32-bit MCUs worldwide according to the Gartner Dataquest April 2008 ranking report.