Infineon Introduces Two Low-Cost 8-bit MCU Series Supporting Energy Efficient Designs of Drives, Automation, Lighting Solutions, and Human Machine Interfaces

Neubiberg and Nuremberg, Germany – March 2, 2010 – At the Embedded World Show 2010 in Nuremberg today, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) expanded its cost-effective and scalable XC800 microcontroller (MCU) portfolio with two powerful new device series. The new XC82x and XC83x series were specifically developed to further reduce system cost and allow for improved energy efficiency of a wide range of industrial applications.

Both, better energy efficiency and reduced system costs, are key goals in the design of modern motor controllers used in fans, pumps and compressors, in new types of lighting solutions, and in any kind of power converters. The implementation of intelligent control concepts and connectivity with various communication interfaces helps to fulfill these demands. With the XC82x and XC83x series of 8-bit microcontrollers Infineon combines the market standard 8-bit 8051 CPU and peripherals optimized to enable high energy savings at very low implementation costs. In addition, several of the new devices offer special features to improve the design of man-machine interfaces such as touch panels and LED display applications.

With cost below 0.40 Euro (in 100k unit quantities), the XC82x and XC83x MCUs enable a very cost-effective implementation of energy saving control concepts. XC82x and XC83x features comprise capacitive touch sense and LED matrix controller, EEPROM emulation, 10-bit A/D Converter (ADC), Capture Compare Unit (CCU6) with hardware link to ADC, window watchdog timer, power down modes, and various communication interfaces, such as UART, high speed SPI and I2C. The XC82x series integrates a Multiply-Division-Unit (MDU). The XC83x provides a 16-bit vector computer and a ROM library for field oriented control functions, and high current pads (30mA to 50mA).

“In addition to motor control, intelligent powerful microcontrollers can help to significantly improve the efficiency of lighting, air conditioning, induction cooking, with the potential for energy savings of 40 percent or more,” said Juergen Hoika, Marketing Director, Microcontrollers at Infineon Technologies. ”Low cost and easy-to-use microcontrollers like the Infineon XC82x and XC83x series will help system designers introduce high efficiency designs with no compromise in the use of sophisticated control methods.”

To implement efficient system designs using 8-bit MCUs, both of the new series provide features for generation of high resolution PWM signals, fast ADC measurements, autonomous peripherals, and comparators for control loop and for protection. Specifically, the XC82x/XC83x MCUs provide a Capture/Compare unit (CCU6) clocked at 48MHz and a fast 16-MHz ADC with a sample time of only 125ns and a conversion time of about 820ns. The direct hardware link between ADC and CCU6 in the design ensures fast and reliable control loops. In addition, the integrated ADC limit checker realizes a digital comparator with 8-bit resolution.

Fast development cycles for industrial applications

Infineon offers a variety of application kits and tools to support the critical time-to-market requirements faced in new system designs. With inDrive800 Infineon offers complete 8-bit solutions for drives and automation applications to support faster development cycles. Engineers do not need to start from scratch but can base their design on Infineon’s application kits available in various power classes and functionality schemes. A free IDE and tool chain supports easy selection and configuration of the right MCU and reuse of application specific source code.

With inTouch800 Infineon provides solutions with the XC82x and XC83x series for highly integrated human machine interfaces. Capacitive touch control and operation of LED-displays or stepper gauges without further driver-devices is managed with a 24-pin MCU.

Cost sensitive applications need easy-to-use and free-of-charge tools. For this reason Infineon announced today DAVE™ Bench – Infineon’s platform for development tools for Infineon’s microcontrollers. The first version for the XC800 family includes an Eclipse based IDE, connection to DAVE, SDCC C compiler, HiTOP level 1 debugger, Flash Loader and UART terminal U-SPY incl. data visualization.

Furthermore Infineon’s tool partner Keil is offering a new version of its C51 Compiler. ”The Infineon XC800 series provides efficient capabilities for industrial, automotive and other embedded applications,” said Reinhard Keil, Director of MCU Tools, ARM Germany GmbH. ”The Infineon XC82x and XC83x series extend the device range for cost-sensitive embedded applications and to increase performance and code density we are enhancing the features of the Keil C51 Compiler.”

Availability and Pricing

The portfolio of the XC82x and XC83x series ranges from 2KB to 8KB of programmable flash and from 16-pin to 28-pin package variants, with temperature robustness up to 125 °C. Dedicated variants to meet ACQ100 requirements for automotive applications are as well part of the portfolio. Single unit prices range from Euro 0.39 (US $0.55) to Euro 0.72 (US $1.01) in 100k quantities. Engineering samples of the XC82x series are available, samples of the XC83X series starting April 2010.

Further information

Infineon presents its new microcontrollers, new SW development platform DAVE Bench, new Easy Kit with touch-sense and LED-demo and an inTouch800 Demo Kit at its booth (hall 12, booth 428) at Embedded World, March 2-4, 2010 in Nuremberg.

Further information on Infineon’s microcontroller offering at: www.infineon.com/microcontrollers

Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, communications, and security. In the 2009 fiscal year (ending September), the company reported sales of Euro 3.03 billion with approximately 25,650 employees worldwide. With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the U.S. from Milpitas, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY).