Freescale Expands Digital Signal Controller Portfolio with Additional Price/Performance Options.

56F8000 Family Adds Four Devices That Deliver More Analog Integration, Memory and Package Choices

AUSTIN, Texas -- Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is answering the market demand for more advanced digital control solutions by adding four digital signal controllers (DSCs) to its 16-bit 56F8000 DSC family. With the introduction of these four devices, Freescale has significantly broadened its array of cost-effective DSC offerings.

"The price point and functionality of the 56F8000 devices allowed our team to explore the DSC market and begin building on this robust architecture," said Timo Kasi, vice president of research and development at Vacon Oyj. "Freescale's development tools combined with 56F8000 devices functionality allowed us to decrease development time. This is a huge advantage in introducing new products to the market."

With the 56F8000 family, consumer and industrial products that previously required both digital and analog control algorithms and circuits now can be controlled digitally through flexible, intelligent embedded software running on a DSC. Freescale's latest DSCs provide optimal digital control solutions for motor control (refrigerator compressors, dishwashers, conveyor belts); digital power conversion (AC-DC power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies, frequency inverters); and advanced lighting control (high-brightness LED arrays for architectural lighting and LCD backlights).

"Sophisticated control algorithms and high-performance processors are often beyond the budget scope of high-volume, cost-sensitive embedded applications," said Will Strauss, president and founder of Forward Concepts. "Freescale's 56F8000 family changes the game by combining the performance and fast calculation of a digital signal processor with the ease-of-use and control capabilities of a microcontroller -- all on a single chip. DSCs offered at attractive price points have the potential to drive application innovations, such as sensorless motor control in appliances."

After introducing the industry's first DSC products six years ago, Freescale continues to enhance its 16-bit DSC portfolio and build on the market success of its flagship 56F8000 DSC family.

"The combination of exceptional price/performance, a powerful core, small footprint and intelligent peripherals makes the 56F8000 family a compelling solution for system designers who want to leap to full digital control," said Mike McCourt, vice president and general manager of Freescale's microcontroller business. "With this latest DSC product introduction, Freescale is keeping pace with our customers' needs for higher integration and reduced cost."

56F8000 Family Enhancements

The latest 56F8000 DSCs are available in four lead-free package options, ranging from 32 to 64 pins, with flash memory sizes from 12KB to 64KB. The increased flash memory array enables easier implementation of complex loop control algorithms and system control features.

Other additions to the 56F8000 peripheral set include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and analog comparators. These features enable reduced design costs through the elimination of external components and circuitry. An optional Multi-Scalable Controller Area Network (MSCAN) 2.0 A/B module is available on the higher memory devices, providing robust connectivity for industrial and automotive applications.

The need for accurate, low-cost motor control is prevalent in household appliance applications. Recent regulatory requirements are driving appliance manufacturers to increase the system integrity/safety of their control circuitry. The 56F8000 family addresses these latest regulations with advanced features, such as an independently clocked watchdog timer and the capability to verify flash memory contents. Both features allow system designers to guard against conditions such as code runaway that could potentially induce unsafe conditions in their end products.

The 56F8000 family enhancements bring efficient, reliable and cost-effective control to embedded applications. Examples include sensorless control of electric motors, reducing system cost and helping to eliminate potential points of failure; less torque ripple in electric motors, reducing vibration and noise though adaptive, closed-loop algorithmic control; and reduction of bulky magnetics in power supplies, resulting in more efficient power conversion with reduced heat generation and smaller size.

56F8000 Features

The 56F8000 series incorporates Freescale's 56800/E DSC core, which delivers 32 MIPS and single-cycle multiply accumulate (MAC) execution. Additional device features include:

-- Up to 64KB of flash

-- 96MHz PWM with programmable fault capability

-- Highly accurate 12-bit ADC with a 1.125 microsecond conversion rate

-- ADC/PWM synchronization

-- Inter-IC bus interface

-- Integrated voltage regulator and power supervisor

-- Tunable relaxation oscillator

-- Four 16-bit timers, computer operating properly (COP), serial peripheral interface (SPI) and serial communications interface (SCI)

-- Up to 26 general-purpose input/output (GPIO)

-- Temperature range from -40 degrees C to 125 degrees C

Availability and Support

Product specifications and development systems for the 56F8037, 56F8036, 56F8025 and 56F8023 DSC devices are available now. Production quantities are planned for the first quarter of 2007.

A complimentary CodeWarrior permanent license for up to 16KB application code (sufficient for the MC56F801x products) is available through simple Web-based registration. Freescale also provides Processor Expert rapid application design tools, training materials, application notes, hardware tools and reference designs to expedite system development with Freescale digital signal controllers.

For more information about the 56F8000 products and available services and support, visit http://www.freescale.com/files/pr/56F8000.html.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD). www.freescale.com.

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