Microcontrollers for energy-sensitive applications

The 32-bit Giant Gecko will provide Flash configurations up to 1,024KB with the added option of embedded USB connectivity.

There will be 48 EFM32GG microcontrollers offering a choice of 64, 128, 256, 512 and 1,024KB Flash memory blocks and a RAM of 32KB or 128KB.

The microcontrollers' pin and software compatibility with the existing Gecko product family means designers can develop products using the existing Gecko microcontroller and migrate to Giant Gecko when the higher-memory parts enter production.

Package options will include QFN64, QFP100 and BGA112.

Built around the energy efficient ARM Cortex-M3 processor architecture, the Giant Gecko, Gecko and Tiny Gecko microcontrollers are said to demonstrate an energy usage a quarter of that of alternative 8-, 16- or 32-bit microcontrollers.

With a wake-up time of 2us and current consumption of 180uA per MHz executing code from Flash, 900nA in deep-sleep mode and 20nA in shut-off mode, the microcontrollers are capable of extending typical battery life by 300 per cent, according to Energy Micro.

The Giant Gecko's embedded USB connectivity option will be USB2.0 compliant at full speed (12Mbits/sec), integrating 2KB endpoint buffers and handling up to 10 endpoints.

It will provide support for USB host and on-the-go configurations as well as bootloader over USB.

Additional extended communication options offered by Giant Gecko will include dual I2C and up to five USART/UART serial interfaces.

Giant Gecko will feature the same selection of energy saving peripherals as the companion Gecko and Tiny Gecko products.

These include: an eight-channel, 12-bit ADC using 200uA at full resolution and 1Msamples/sec conversion rate; a 4x40 segment LCD controller using 900nA and a special low-energy UART consuming 100nA at 9600baud.

In addition, for wireless encryption/decryption duties, a 128/256-bit AES accelerator block is also provided.