Microcontrollers suited for battery-powered units

The low-power platforms combine ultra-low-leakage design techniques with NXP's optimised power-efficient libraries.

In addition, the MCUs feature API-driven power profiles that provide users with ready-to-use power-management templates.

Based on the ARM Cortex-M0 processor, the LPC1100L microcontroller is said to deliver the industry's lowest 32-bit active power consumption at 130uA/MHz and reduce deep sleep current by 60 per cent.

The LPC1300L, based on the Cortex-M3 processor, offers similar gains in power efficiency while providing a performance boost up to 72MHz and is pin- and peripheral-compatible with the LPC1100L.

The power profiles can be customised for any low-power application, allowing designers to reach ideal power levels with minimal application intervention.

The power profiles serve as an alternative to non-configurable low power modes, as they can conduct dynamic power management and optimise CPU operation for various application states.

This feature minimises overall energy consumption while maintaining the lowest operating current at low supply voltages.

Optimised for CPU performance, CPU efficiency and lowest active current, the power profiles enable maximum operating frequency through the entire voltage range from 1.8 to 3.6V, without compromising speed or functionality.

In CPU performance mode, the microcontroller is configured to increase CPU throughput by providing more processing capability to the application.

Coremark benchmark results have proven that scores increase by 35 per cent when compared with regular operation, according to the company The CPU efficiency mode is designed to deliver a fine balance between the CPU's ability to execute code, process data and, at the same time, lower active current consumption.

The lowest active current mode is intended for applications that focus on lowering active current, keeping the CPU's high processing capabilities available as required.

Coremark benchmarks have shown a 20 to 30 per cent improvement in power consumption when this mode is enabled, according to the company.

Features: speeds of up to 50MHz for the LPC1100L and up to 72MHz for the LPC1300L, which are pin- and peripheral-compatible; 32 vectored interrupts; four priority levels; dedicated interrupts on up to 13 GPIOs; UART, 1-2 SSP, I2C (FM+) as serial peripherals; two 16-bit and two 32-bit timers with PWM/match/capture; 12MHz internal RC oscillator with one per cent accuracy over temperature and voltage power-on-reset (POR); multi-level brown-out-detect (BOD); phase-locked loop (PLL); eight-channel high-precision 10-bit ADC with +/-1LSB DNL; up to 28 or 42 fast 5V tolerant GPIO pins for HVQFN33 and LQFP48 respectively; high drive (20mA) on selected pins; 11 GPIO pins in WL-CSP; single 1.8-3.6V power supply; over 5kV ESD for rugged applications.