Cygnal Integrated Products Introduces FLASH-Based, Mixed-Signal Microcontroller Family Aimed at Broad Market Applications.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000

Cygnal Integrated Products Inc. today announced a breakthrough in programmable system-on-chip performance and integration with the introduction of their C8051Fxxx family of mixed-signal, in-system programmable MCUs.

The first two devices in this family, the C8051F000 and C8051F010 each combine, in a single chip, a 100ksps SAR ADC, two 12-bit DACs, two programmable comparators and a 20 MIPS peak throughput, 8051-compatible CPU with 32K bytes of FLASH memory. The `F000 and `F010 differ only in the resolution of their ADCs -- the `F000 has 12-bit resolution while the `F010 has 10-bit resolution.

Both are supported by Cygnal's $99 development kit, a comprehensive development tool that offers levels of sophistication found only in emulators costing thousands of dollars.

Both devices have ADC front ends consisting of a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) and 9-channel analog input MUX. The ninth MUX input channel is internally connected to an on-chip analog temperature sensor, providing ambient temperature sensing for thermal management or temperature compensation applications. The MUX can be programmed "on-the-fly" to operate in either differential or single-ended mode providing flexibility to choose the best measurement mode on a channel-by-channel basis.

The ADC can run continuously or can be precisely triggered by a hardware or software event. The ADC output is monitored by a programmable digital comparator that generates an interrupt when the input signal is out of the user-programmed range, especially useful in fast-response control applications.

In addition, both devices have two 12-bit DACs suitable for a variety of uses including waveform generation, system offset correction and voltage control. There are two rail-to-rail input analog comparators with software-programmable hysteresis and an on-board, 30ppm voltage reference with an external reference I/O pin.

The `F000 and F010 utilize Cygnal's 20 MIPS peak (@20MHz) CIP-51(tm) processor core -- the highest throughput 8051-compatible processor available. The processor may be clocked by its own on-board oscillator (no external components required); by an external crystal, RC circuit, resonator or another CMOS-compatible clock source to a maximum of 20MHz. Built-in system safeguards include a precision, on-board power supply monitor/brown-out detector, watchdog timer and missing clock detector.

Both the `F000 and `F010 boast a rich complement of fully hardware-implemented digital peripherals including 32 high current I/O port pins, UART, SPI(tm)(a) and SMBus/I2C(tm)(b) ports, four 8051-style timers, and a five-channel programmable counter array (PCA) suitable for timing and pulse-width modulation. A unique digital crossbar circuit enables the user to assign the on-board digital resources, in any mix, to the I/O pins for the exact digital I/O functionality required to satisfy the application at hand.

Both products feature in-system debugging capability, eliminating the need for expensive external emulation hardware and its associated performance-degrading cables and sockets. Instead, the user connects his PC (running Cygnal's integrated development environment (IDE) software) to the JTAG pins of the `F000/'F010 via a small RS232-to-JTAG protocol converter module called an "Emulation Cartridge" (EC).

Debugging takes place using the actual MCU installed in the end application. The integrated debugger operates unobtrusively, providing multiple breakpoints, single step execution, examine/update registers and memory, FLASH memory programming, and a host of other features and functions typical of emulators costing thousands of dollars. Cygnal offers a low-cost, turnkey development kit containing everything needed to develop applications with the C8051Fxxx family of products.

These kits are shipped complete with EC and serial cables, Windows 95/98/NT(tm)(c)-compatible IDE software (editor, macro assembler, debugger), pre-assembled target/prototyping board (with `F000/'F010 installed) and AC/DC wall-mount power supply. The C8051F000DK and C8051F010DK development kits support the `F000 and `F010 respectively and differ only in which MCU is installed in the target/prototyping board. Each sells for only $99 complete and is available at Cygnal's Web site at www.cygnal.com.

"The `F000 and `F010 represent a new class of embedded mixed-signal controller. They will certainly enable new markets and applications," says Don Alfano, V.P. of Marketing for Cygnal. "The analog precision and programmable digital intelligence of these products make them well suited for measurement and control applications such as intelligent sensors, data acquisition and feedback control systems.

"Their high throughput processing and flexible power-management modes make them ideal for both line-powered and hand-held embedded systems. In addition, they're easy to use and have a cost of entry of only $99."

Both products are packaged in a 64-pin TQFP. The `F010 is available from stock and will be closely followed by the `F000. The C8051F010 sells for $11.27 in quantities of 1,000 pieces.

About Cygnal

Founded in March 1999, Cygnal Integrated Products Inc. of Austin, Texas, designs, manufactures and markets field-programmable, mixed signal system-on-chip products and associated support tools. These products embody the Company's considerable technical skills integrating world-class analog, high-speed digital and FLASH memory functions into a single device with "no-compromises." The combination of mixed signal integration and field programmability benefit the user with higher component integration, greater design flexibility, faster time-to-market, superior system performance and greater end product differentiation. Cygnal products address a broad range of markets including communications systems, industrial equipment and consumer products. The Company's worldwide sales force consists of a network of field application engineers and manufacturer's representatives. Technical information is available and orders are accepted at the Company's e-commerce site at www.cygnal.com. Products may be purchased in any quantity, either by purchase order (invoiced shipments) or by credit card. Cygnal is backed with over $15M in venture capital funding from several companies including Austin Ventures, JatoTech Ventures, Cirrus Logic, Sanyo Semiconductor plus other well known venture and private investors.

Cygnal, CIP-51 and cygnal.com are trademarks of Cygnal Integrated Products Inc.

(a) SPI is a trademark of Motorola Inc.

(b) SMBus is a trademark of Intel Inc., I2C is a trademark of Philips

Inc.

(c) Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Inc.