Toshiba launches its first ARM® CORTEX-M3™ microcontroller, the TMPM330FDFG 

Toshiba joins the Cortex-M3 crowd as the first Japanese semiconductor company. We shall see whether that is the beginning of a new trend for Japanese microcontroller companies or just an exception. This new device, the TMPM330FDFG is definitely not targeted at the high end performance of the Cortex-M3 based parts but it offers a couple of unique features. With the CEC interface coming from the consumer electronics world, it is easy to realize an HDMI interface, given the hardware support for the interface. The other outstanding feature is the lowest power consumption of existing M3 devices. 

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create breakthrough designs, is proud to announce it is the first Japanese semiconductor manufacturer to develop a 32-bit ARM® Cortex-M3™ core-based microcontroller, the TMPM330FDFG. TAEC leveraged the Cortex-M3 core to create a high-performance, low-power general-purpose microcontroller with large Flash memory, real time clock, 10-bit A/D converter, 3-channel SIO/UART and packaged in an LQFP package. These features make the TMPM330FDFG well suited for use in consumer, industrial, security system and low power applications.

According to Andrew Burt, vice president of the Imaging and Communications Marketing Group at TAEC , "The TMPM330FDFG delivers high-code efficiency for better memory storage, exceptional interrupt handling and low power consumption. The device can achieve the cost/performance equivalent of a 16-bit core, but with 32-bit performance. This is an exceptional device and we intend to add similar products to our microcontroller lineup to support different markets."
At no extra cost to the customer, the TMPM330FDFG also features a CEC ( Consumer Electronic Control), which is a device control method standardized for HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). With CEC, signal processing is performed in hardware, which simplifies software processing and conserves memory utilization, peripheral functions and CPU resources, freeing those resources for other functions.
Key Features
With an operating frequency of 40MHz, the TMPM330FDFG achieves the lowest- power consumption in its class, about 15mW, and the fastest programming/erasing speed, approximately two seconds, for its class in the industry. The TPMP330FDFG has an integrated 12-channel A/D converter to enable high-speed conversion of analog data from various sensors in 1.15 microseconds. Other features include:

    * Power voltage: 2.7V to 3.6V
    * On-chip ROM/RAM: 512-KB FLASH ROM; 32-KB RAM
    * Built-in functions: 16-bit timer: 10 channels,
    * I2C/SIO: 3 channels
    * SIO/UART: 3 channels
    * UART channels can operate in three modes: 7-bit, 8-bit and 9-bit
    * CEC: 1 channel which can be disabled in software if desired
    * 1.25 DMIPS/MHZ performance
    * Implements the ARM architecture V7 M
    * Optimized design using low power consumption library
    * Ultra-low power consumption modes
    * Fast interrupt response for critical real-time applications.
    * Package: LQFP100 (14mm x 14mm, 0.5mm pitch)

Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the TMPM330FDFG is $6 each in 10K quantities. Samples have been available since Q1 2009 and mass production is scheduled to begin in March 2009.