Zilog introduces S3 family of Z8-compatible MCUs

Applications include battery chargers, thermostats, boiler control, microwaves, e-bikes, LED lighting, power meters, blood pressure meters, and smoke detectors and more. This release of the S3 Family completes a strategic move by Zilog’s parent company, IXYS, which acquired its portfolio of S3 products from Samsung.

“These 8-bit products fit with our mixed-signal ICs and our power semiconductors, whereby we will be able to offer our customers complete solutions for power management – from digital-control analog-driver ICs to higher-power devices, under the World of IXYS experience. We now offer a rich set of MCUs, in addition to this S3 family - from the classic Z8 based SOCs to the popular Z8051 MCUs, commented Dr. Nathan Zommer, Chairman and CEO of IXYS.

Zilog established itself nearly forty years ago as a trusted supplier of its classic cores, the Z80, Z8, and Z16 MCUs, for a variety of applications. Historically, the SAM8 and SAM88 CPUs that are the core of the S3 Family were based on Zilog’s efficient Z8 architecture. For Zilog to introduce the S3 Family is simply a natural evolution culminating in a cooperative agreement between IXYS and Samsung. The S3 addition offers Zilog customers a wider MCU base, with freedom to design products with their cores of preference. New targeted customers within the World of IXYS products, with existing embedded design platforms using the S3 cores, now have an MCU supplier committed to the long-term support of their manufacturing needs with a wide range of peripheral mixed-signal circuits, driver ICs, power management circuits and power semiconductors.

Zilog’s S3 Family of products and development kits are now available for customers that place orders through specific distributors identified by Zilog.