Ultra low end 8-bit microcontrollers

The MC9RS08KA family of ultra low-end 8-bit microcontrollers from Freescale Semiconductor is the first to use the company's RS08 core, a reduced version of its S08 CPU specifically crafted to be more efficient and cost-effective for small-memory-size applications, the company says.

By Control Engineering Staff June 15, 2006

The MC9RS08KA family of ultra low-end 8-bit microcontrollers from Freescale Semiconductor is the first to use the company’s RS08 core, a reduced version of its S08 CPU specifically crafted to be more efficient and cost-effective for small-memory-size applications, the company says.

The MC9RS08KA microcontroller is a general-purpose device that can be used in a wide variety of applications, including high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lighting system controls, small handheld devices, toys, ac line voltage monitoring and simple logic, analog drivers and ASIC replacements. It’s useful for transitioning from solid-state relays and switching systems to a full electronic solution, such as when upgrading an electro-mechanical design to a solid-state electronic application.

The MC9RS08KA family expands the Freescale 8-bit portfolio and provides a new entry point for the company’s Controller Continuum, which provides an easy migration path from 8- to 32-bit devices. It also provides small package sizes, with one option being a tiny 3 x 3 mm 6-pin dual flat no-lead package (DFN). Other features include:

Up to 2 KB third-generation flash with extremely fast byte-writable programming;

Flexible clock options;

8-bit modulo timer with 8-bit prescalar;

Analog comparator that requires only a single pin for input signal;

Real-time interrupt trigger with 3-bit prescalar;

Four bidirectional Input/Output (I/O) lines;

System protection, including low voltage detection (LVD), which is not often found on ultra-low end MCUs;

Background debugging system; and

Fast Track CodeWarrior development tools, including CodeWarrior Development Studio for HC(S)08/RS08 microcontrollers.

—Renee Robbins, editorial director, Control Engineering, renee.robbins@reedbusiness.com