Freescale embraces ARM

Freescale is embracing the ARM Cortex-M4 core and introducing a completely new range of mcus. Featuring more than 200 devices, the Kinetis family will feature scalable, ultra low power devices for industrial and consumer applications. Jim Stuart, European consumer and industrial microcontroller marketing manager, described the move as 'significant'. "Freescale has always used proprietary cores in its microcontrollers, but customers have been asking us for ARM based products because of the ARM ecosystem." Manufactured on a 90nm process, the Kinetis range will feature on chip instruction and data caches, along with a crossbar switch to allow the use of multiple data paths. Kinetis will include seven ranges with a set of common IP. Stuart said: "Starting from a clean sheet has allowed us to create an orthogonal family with consistency from the point of view of performance and pin out, making migration as easy as possible." All parts share common analogue and digital peripherals. The entry level K10 range, running at up to 150MHz, offers memories ranging from 32kbyte to 1Mbyte and packages ranging from 32 to 144pin. At the top end, the K70 range runs at up to 180MHz, with memories ranging from 512kbyte to 1Mbyte and packages running from 196 to 256pin. * Meanwhile, Freescale is moving the ColdFire processor to 90nm and launching ColdFire+. Said to consume 150µA/MHz, the mcus will be supplied with a hardware touch sense interface.