Toshiba Launches Single-Chip, Low-Pin-Count ARM® CORTEX®-M4F-Based Microcontrollers with Vector Engine
October 06, 2016
Second group of products in TXZ™ family can efficiently control multiple motors
SAN JOSE, Calif., – Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create breakthrough designs, today launched a new group of microcontrollers (MCUs) that allow a single chip with a low pin count (32 to 64 pins) to control multiple motors in Field Oriented Control (FOC) methodology. The M4K MCUs are the second product group in Toshiba’s TXZ™ family of high-speed, low power consumption microcontrollers that incorporate the ARM® Cortex®-M4F core with a co-processor for Toshiba’s original vector engine that handles FOC algorithm in parallel for high efficient, low noise, and dynamic torque response motor applications. The initial M3H group was announced in April 2016 for general purpose wide range of white goods and industrial equipment applications.
The M4K products are suitable for motor control in home appliances, such as air conditioners, and are based on the ARM Cortex-M4F, which incorporates a floating point processing unit. Previously, driving two motors, in FOC methodology, required a product1 with a 100-pin package. Now, the TXZ family products with 64-pin packages can control two motors because the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for detecting motor positions is accelerated and realizes a 0.5-microsecond conversion speed.
“As regulations tighten and product miniaturization continues, demand is rising for low-pin-count MCUs that can efficiently control multiple motors. With our M4K group, appliance makers can simplify and shrink the size of the circuit boards used in their products,” said Deepak Mithani, senior director of the Mixed Signal Business Unit, System LSI Group at TAEC. “Toshiba will continue to enhance its portfolio for the growing motor control and sensing market.”
The new MCUs support the RAMScope interface, which can monitor parameters in real time, without stopping motors, by loading parameters relevant to motor control to the random-access memory (RAM). Also incorporated are a self-diagnostic function that monitors the reference voltage of the A/D converter, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) arithmetic circuit that detects incorrect detection for every read operation of the memory. Both contribute to load mitigation of the software process required for functional safety2.
Operating at up to 80Mhz, the devices are available in low-pin-count packages, ranging from 32 to 64 pins, and small Flash memory sizes (64KB to 128KB3). Sample software uses built-in hardware resources, including the high-precision ADC with 0.5-microsecond conversion speed, Toshiba’s Advanced Vector Engine Plus (A-VE+), and Advanced Programmable Motor Driver (A-PMD). Together, these features ensure the new MK4 products realize efficient motor control while improving power consumption and system control. For information regarding Vector Engine technology for Field Oriented Control, please consult Toshiba representative for more information.
Availability
Samples of 13 products in the MK4 group of MCUs will begin shipping in October.
*About TAEC
Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs. Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, VARs, distributors and fabless chip companies worldwide. A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, solid state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state hybrid drives (SSHDs), discrete devices, custom SoCs/ASICs, imaging products, microcontrollers, wireless components, mobile peripheral devices, advanced materials and medical tubes that make possible today’s leading smartphones, tablets, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics, industrial applications, enterprise solutions and more.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan’s largest semiconductor, solid state drive and hard disk drive manufacturer and the world’s seventh largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2015 Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue, January, 2016). Founded in Tokyo in 1875, Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 580 consolidated companies employing over 199,000 people worldwide. Visit Toshiba's web site at http://toshiba.semicon-storage.com.
1M370 group products in Toshiba MCUs for motor control
2Compliant with the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) IEC 60730 standard
3Product density is identified based on the maximum density of memory chip(s) within the Product, not the amount of memory capacity available for data storage by the end user. Consumer-usable capacity will be less due to overhead data areas, formatting, bad blocks, and other constraints, and may also vary based on the host device and application.
TXZ is a trademark of Toshiba Corporation
ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the EU and other countries.
Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications.