February 28, 2012 Texas Instruments Incorporated has unveiled feature-packed MSP430 microcontroller platform with the aim of pushing ultra-low-power limits, bringing consumers one step closer to a battery-free world. Read more

February 21, 2012 French processor designer Cortus plans to launch three new microcontroller IP cores over the next six months as part of its processor roadmap. The new cores share common technology with the highly efficient APS3 core but address complementary market segments. Read more

February 14, 2012 NXP Semiconductors N.V. is releasing the world’s first ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller with dual supply voltage of 1.65 V to 1.95 V V DD and 1.65 V to 3.6 V V IO . The company’s new LPC1100LV series offers 50 MIPS performance in a 2-mm x 2-mm footprint with over three times power reduction compared to similar 3.3 V V DD devices. The LPC1100LV platform is specifically designed for battery-powered end applications ranging from mobile phones, tablets, Ultrabooks and mobile accessories to active cable, cameras, and portable medical electronics. Read more

January 18, 2012 Renesas Electronics has developed a new 32-bit microcontroller (MCU), the V850E2/PJ4-E, which incorporates an on-chip resolver sensor interface. The new MCU realizes both higher performance and lower system cost for automotive control systems including motor control for HEV/EV and other automotive applications. Read more

January 11, 2012 Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced the company’s lowest cost microcontroller (MCU) with an integrated LCD controller. Based on TI’s MSP430 ultra-low power MCU core, the AFE4110 delivers an industry-leading combination of 16-bit processing power, built-in LCD driver, low power and low cost, while operating on a single 1.5-V battery. Read more

January 6, 2012 Treehouse Labs has unveiled the BiKN Technology Platform which uses low-power wireless chip technology from NXP Semiconductors N.V. to enable the 'Internet of Things ', opening entirely new markets and applications for affordable wireless sensor and control networks.  The platform aims to revolutionize the way mobile networks and applications for control, tracking and monitoring are delivered. Read more

December 14, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated has unveiled the new MSP430Ware software and resource package. MSP430Ware offers a sleek and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) where developers can immediately access and easily filter through all MSP430 microcontroller design resources by device, tool or software library. Read more

December 13, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated has unveiled a new motor control kit for spinning three-phase brushless motors with a Stellaris Cortex-M3 microcontroller (MCU). The new DK-LM3S-DRV8312 motor control kit features a 32-bit Stellaris LM3S818 microcontroller and DRV8312 motor driver to spin sub-50 V, 6.5 A three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors in minutes. Read more

December 7, 2011 SEGGER Microcontroller's high-performance embedded middleware suite is now supporting Energy Micro's range of ultra low energy ARM Cortex-M3 based EFM32 Gecko microcontrollers. Read more

December 7, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced the MSP430F563x and MSP430F663x families adding more performance and features to its ultra-low-power 16-bit microcontroller portfolio. Developers can immediately take advantage of the microcontrollers’ larger memory, display capacity and analog peripherals, which enable high precision measurement and connectivity. Read more

December 1, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has introduced a sub-1 GHz radio frequency (RF) value line plug-in-board for TI’s MSP430 microcontroller LaunchPad development kit. The new 430BOOST-CC110L RF BoosterPack includes ETSI-compliant and FCC-certified modules to help speed development time, reduce certification costs and eliminate barriers associated with the RF hardware design process. Read more

November 30, 2011 NXP Semiconductors N.V. has introduced the LPC11U2x series – the first microcontroller based on the ARM Cortex -M0 processor to offer integrated USB class drivers. By integrating multiple USB drivers in ROM, the LPC11U2x maximizes Flash memory utilization, saving up to 16 KB of code space while providing fully tested and easy-to-use APIs to enable USB integration in a matter of minutes. Read more

November 16, 2011 In this news analysis article EE Times Europe Analog's editor, Paul Buckley questions Jan Jaap Bezemer, NXP Semiconductors' director of marketing, microcontroller product line, as to the reasons for NXP Semiconductors unveiling a series of new low-pin-count package options for the company's market-leading ARM Cortex-M0 LPC1100 family of microcontrollers.  Read more

September 28, 2011 Renesas Electronics has introduced a new highly-integrated 16-bit microcontroller, the 78K0R/LG3-M, which enables the design of cost-effective and highly integrated single-phase static electricity meters. Combining a high-performance 20 MHz 16-bit core with128 KB of Flash memory and 7 KB of RAM, the new MCU integrates all the major functions required in a static electricity meter. Read more

September 27, 2011 NXP Semiconductors N.V. and SEGGER Microcontroller plans to offer the emWin graphic library for free with NXP ARM microcontrollers. Developed by SEGGER, emWin provides a robust, efficient GUI for any application operating with a graphical LCD, and features outstanding support for high-quality anti-aliased text and shapes. Read more

September 27, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated has unveiled the new low power, floating-point Stellaris Cortex-M4F microcontroller generation. All of the new LM4Fx Stellaris microcontrollers provide floating point for performance headroom and best-in-class power consumption to address portability and power budgets. Read more

September 8, 2011 Low-power wireless chip technology from NXP Semiconductors N.V. is being used the HyGreen Hand Hygiene and Recording System, designed by HyGreen, to capture and transmit data on hand washing by healthcare workers, helping to improve hospital hygiene.  The innovative solution actively reminds busy healthcare workers to wash their hands, and records all hand-washing events and patient-staff interactions in the hospital environment. Read more

July 14, 2011 Atmel Corporation has added new features to the company's 8/16-bit AVR XMEGA microcontroller (MCU) family with the industry's lowest power consumption of 100 nA with 5 µS wake-up time. The new Atmel AVR XMEGA family includes full-speed USB, the fastest and highest-precision analog systems, a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller and the innovative event system that maximize real-time performance and throughput while reducing CPU load. Read more

July 12, 2011 Energy Micro is making the company’s EFM32 Gecko and Tiny Gecko product lines in a QFP64 package. The new 64-pin devices are suitable for smart metering applications as well as energy sensitive applications like building automation, security systems and portable health and fitness equipment. Read more

June 24, 2011 With the S12VR64, Freescale Semiconductor has introduced the first single-chip implementation within its S12 MagniV mixed-signal microcontroller product line. Designed for applications in the automotive body such as driving DC motors in power windows and sunroofs, the chip supports LIN bus connectivity. Read more

June 1, 2011 NXP Semiconductors N.V. has announced availability of its LPC1788 microcontroller which claims to be the industry's first ARM Cortex-M3-based MCU to be shipping in volume with an integrated LCD controller. With up to 96 KB of on-chip SRAM and a 32-bit external memory interface, the LPC178x series allows customers to easily and cost-effectively add high-quality graphics to their applications. Read more

April 27, 2011 Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced the Grace software platform, a free visual plug-in that enables developers to easily enable and configure ultra-low-power MSP430 microcontroller peripherals through a graphical user interface (GUI). Read more

April 20, 2011 Offering the world’s lowest power touch sense capabilities on all MSP430 devices, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has unveiled the ultra-low-power MSP430 16-bit microcontroller capacitive touch portfolio. The new capacitive touch portfolio enables ultra-low-power touch sense capabilities such as buttons, sliders, wheels and proximity sensors on 16-bit microcontroller platform. Read more

March 29, 2011 Microchip Technology has expanded its 8-bit segmented LCD microcontroller (MCU) family with five new devices—the PIC16LF1902/3/4/6/7 (PIC16LF190X) MCUs. The PIC16LF190X family supports many general-purpose applications and enables the implementation of LCD into low-power and cost-sensitive designs, such as security tokens, smart cards, medical devices, home appliances, key fobs or any application involving a segmented LCD. Read more

February 22, 2011 NXP Semiconductors N.V. has unveiled its LPC1200 Industrial Control Series featuring the ARM Cortex-M0 processor which extends NXP’s 32-bit ARM microcontroller continuum and targets a wide range of industrial applications in the areas of factory and home automation, such as white goods, motor control, power conversion and power supplies. Read more

February 21, 2011 Energy Micro is making the company’s EFM32 Gecko and Tiny Gecko product lines available in the space-saving QFP48 package. The smaller 48-pin ARM Cortex-M3 based microcontroller options will enable manufacturers to take device footprint down to 7 mm x 7 mm at a pin pitch of 0.5 mm. Read more

February 17, 2011 Aquiba, a joint venture between Sentec and Takahata Precision, has selected Energy Micro's energy friendly EFM32 Gecko microcontroller for use in its groundbreaking A200 smart water meter. The microcontroller was chosen for its ultra low power performance, processing capability and peripheral set. Read more

December 6, 2010 NXP Semiconductors, together with Brightsight and Cryptography Research, announced the certification of several NXP SmartMX secure microcontrollers under the DPA Countermeasure Validation Program. The analysis, conducted by security evaluation firm Brightsight, validates the effectiveness of Differential Power Analysis countermeasures in members of NXP's SmartMX product line. Read more

November 23, 2010 Renesas Electronics has developed a new two-channel single-chip IO-Link solution for IO-Link master applications, based on close cooperation with its business partners ELMOS Semiconductor AG and TMG-Karlsruhe. The new IO-Link solution combines Renesas Electronics’ 78K0R-based 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) and the two-channel Elmos IO-Link transceiver in a small 9 x 9 mm QFN package. Read more

November 9, 2010 Energy Micro has added a generic low energy sensor interface to its EFM32 microcontroller product family.  The LESENSE function block enables autonomous monitoring of up to 16 external sensors in the microcontroller's sub-microamp Deep Sleep mode. Read more

November 5, 2010 Renesas Electronics has introduced four 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) products that support slave device operation in the IO-Link communication standard for miniature sensors and actuators used in industrial systems. Read more

November 4, 2010 STMicroelectronics and Omron have collaborated to provide a complete solution for electronic gas meter flow sensors. The flow sensor they have developed is a key component for the smart turn-key gas meter solution that ST is developing. Read more

November 1, 2010 Electronic components distributor Digi-Key has signed a worldwide agreement with Energy Micro for the distribution of its ultra low power EFM32 Gecko microcontroller products. Read more

October 13, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is making available what the company is claiming to be the industry's first kHz frequency silicon MEMS oscillator. Si Time manufactures the oscillator for audio, microcontroller and high reliability industrial applications. Read more

October 1, 2010 Inside Contactless has completed the acquisition of Atmel Corporation's Secure Microcontroller Solutions (SMS) business. Inside paid approximately $32 million in cash after an adjustment based on the working capital of the transferred business at the closing on September 30, 2010, subject to an additional cash consideration of up to $21 million if certain earn-out targets are met in 2010 and 2011. Read more

September 22, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is making available Si Time's SiT8503, which is claimed to be the industry’s first kHz frequency silicon MEMS oscillator of the for audio, microcontroller and high reliability industrial applications. Read more

September 21, 2010 Microchip Technology Inc., has introduced the 8-bit PIC18F87J72 microcontroller (MCU) family for single-phase, multi-function smart-metering and energy-monitoring applications. Read more

September 20, 2010 NXP Semiconductors N.V., has released what the company claims is the industry's highest performance ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller. The LPC1800 is optimized for low power operation at low frequencies all the way through to 150 MHz maximum performance from either Flash or RAM. Read more

September 16, 2010 STMicroelectronics has extended the company’s STM8L EnergyLite ultra low-power microcontroller family with new devices offering enhanced features, such as larger program/data memory, high-accuracy time-keeping, a controller for as many as16 touch-sensitive keys, and support for 128-bit AES encryption. Read more

September 15, 2010 Renesas Electronics Corporation is introducing new measures to expand the company's microcontroller (MCU) business faster than the market growth rate. Read more

September 15, 2010 Driving smaller, lower cost products that run from a single-cell battery, Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced what the company claims is the industry's first true 0.9-V microcontroller (MCU) as the newest addition to the ultra-low-power MSP430 MCU portfolio. Read more

September 3, 2010 Energy Micro has introduced a free software tool designed to remove the time-consuming problem of debugging I/O pin conflicts. Supporting the complete EFM32 Gecko low power MCU family, the energyAware Designer tool ensures correct pin configuration and automatically generates set-up code and documentation. Read more

August 19, 2010 NXP Semiconductors' SmartMX secure contactless microcontroller chip has been selected to power the new German contactless National Identity card (Neuer Personalausweis). The German government selected NXP as the supplier of an inlay solution containing a dedicated SmartMX chip, packaged in an ultra-thin module. Issuance of German contactless ID cards, which will replace the current paper-based IDs, will start in November 2010. Read more

July 19, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is offering the next-generation Atmel 32-bit AVR UC3L microcontroller (MCU) with picoPower technology and embedded capacitive touch controller peripherals. Read more

July 19, 2010 Oslo-based Energy Micro has unveiled details of its EFM32 Giant Gecko microcontroller product family that addresses energy sensitive applications with high memory requirements.  The 32-bit Giant Gecko (GG) will provide Flash configurations up to 1024 KB with the added option of embedded USB connectivity. Read more

June 23, 2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has released its new MSP430 MCU Value Line LaunchPad development kit which claims to be the industry's lowest cost microcontroller (MCU) kit to enable prototyping, debugging and programming for new and experienced developers of sensing, consumer electronics and other cost sensitive applications Read more

June 8, 2010 Analog Devices, Inc., has introduced two fully calibrated, 16-bit-resolution, high-linearity digital temperature sensors that claim to achieve the industry’s highest level of precision over a wide operating temperature range. Read more

May 25, 2010 STMicroelectronics' STM8L ultra low-power microcontroller family is entering full production following the device’s unveiling in late 2009. Read more

May 14, 2010 Atmel Corporation has introduced what the company claims is the world's smallest flash AVR microcontroller package. Read more

April 26, 2010 Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), has introduced a new 32-bit microcontroller (MCU), the TMPM380 that was specifically designed for the digital control of high-current circuits commonly found in industrial or appliance applications. Read more

April 19, 2010 Keil is now supporting the Actel Corporation’s SmartFusion intelligent mixed signal FPGA family in the Keil MDK-ARM Microcontroller Development Kit. Read more

April 19, 2010 Renesas Electronics Europe developed a 4x7mm IO-Link slave solution that includes the manufacturer's All Flash 78K0R 16-bit microcontroller and an ELMOS IO-Link physical layer transceiver. The new solution is equipped with a ball grid array (BGA) package with a pin pitch of 0.5mm in which the balls are arranged in two rows around the edge of the chip, making it easier for system designers to mount the chip on the circuit board. Read more

March 24, 2010 IAR Systems is to support Actel's SmartFusion devices that integrate an FPGA, ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontroller subsystem and programmable analog on a single chip. Read more

March 8, 2010 Micrium has ported its uC/OS-II and uC/OS-III kernels and uC/TCP-IP stack to Actel's new SmartFusion intelligent mixed-signal FPGA. Read more