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Freescale helps reduce cost and complexity of instrument clusters for entry-level vehicles

16-bit S12HY microcontroller family with integrated LCD and stepper motor drivers targets cost-sensitive instrument cluster applications

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a cost-effective family of 16-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) designed for electromechanical instrument clusters used in entry-level vehicles – a rapidly growing segment of the automotive industry. The latest addition to Freescale’s expanding 16-bit MCU portfolio, the new S12HY family combines affordable 16-bit performance with the optimal on-chip features for cost-sensitive dashboard applications in emerging automotive markets.

The S12HY MCUs provide exactly the right amount of on-chip integration to enable the migration from mechanical solutions still used in emerging markets to modern electromechanical instrument clusters. The devices’ high degree of on-chip integration helps reduce system costs by minimizing the need for separate components. An integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) driver supports up to 160 segments for LCD-based instrument clusters. The devices’ on-chip stepper motor controller can drive up to four gauges, providing precise step-by-step control for speedometers, tachometers and other analog gauges. The MCUs also feature a controller area network (CAN) module that simplifies data communications between the engine and dashboard cluster.

The S12HY devices offer up to 64 KB of on-chip flash memory for non-volatile program storage, as well as 4 KB of flash memory for data storage with error correction code (ECC) technology. Freescale’s flash-based MCUs are priced to compete with hard-coded read-only-memory (ROM) devices, while offering much greater flexibility. With a flash-based solution, developers can design a wide range of instrument clusters based on one reprogrammable16-bit MCU product. This ease of dashboard development results in reduced system cost, simpler manufacturing logistics and faster time to market.

“We have tailored the S12HY MCUs to meet the ‘sweet spot’ of the entry-level automotive market in rapidly emerging markets, such as China and India,” said Kevin Klein, global automotive MCU marketing manager at Freescale. “Why should automotive developers have to choose costlier solutions containing more features than they need? Our S12HY MCUs offer an optimal set of on-chip features and package and memory options that developers need for cost-sensitive dashboard designs – no more and no less than what’s required to design a basic electronic instrument cluster.”

In addition to offering scalable 16-bit performance and optimal features, the S12HY family is available in two LQFP package options (from 64 to 100 pins) that are ideal for cost- and space-constrained cluster designs. The family also offers a smooth migration path to more powerful S12X devices, enabling developers to scale their designs as their flash memory and performance requirements increase. The S12 MCU family is the most widely adopted 16-bit architecture in the automotive market. Freescale has shipped approximately 400 million 16-bit S12 and S12X MCUs to date, and S12-based devices continue to ship at a rate of more than 100 million units per year.

Freescale offers the broadest portfolio of MCUs for instrument clusters, supporting simple to complex designs, from mopeds to luxury cars. In addition to the 16-bit S12 family, Freescale also offers higher-performance 32-bit options based on Power Architecture™ technology, such as the MPC560xS MCUs and MPC5121e multicore processor.

Driving faster time to market
To help developers speed time to market, the S12HY family leverages the extensive suite of hardware and software development tools available today for the S12 and S12X families. Freescale plans to offer a cost-effective S12HY family demonstration board (DEMO9S12HY64) in Q1 2009. The CodeWarrior® Development Tool Suite and a range of third-party development software support also enable rapid application development.

S12HY MCU key features

  • HCS12 CPU core with 32 MHz bus
  • On-chip memory
    • Up to 64 KB flash with ECC
    • 4 KB data flash with ECC
    • 4 KB SRAM
  • Integrated LCD driver, configurable up to 40 x 4 (160 segments total)
  • Stepper motor controller with up to four gauge drivers
  • Multi-scalable controller area network (MSCAN) module (supporting CAN 2.0A/B)
  • Phase locked loop (PLL) frequency multiplier with internal filter
  • Two timer modules with I/O channels that provide a range of 16-bit input capture, output compare, counter and pulse accumulator functions
  • Pulse width modulation (PWM) module with up to eight 8-bit channels
  • Up to 8-channel, 10-bit resolution analog-to-digital converter
  • Serial peripheral interface (SPI) module
  • Serial communication interface (SCI) module supporting LIN 2.0, 2.1 and SAE J2602 communications
  • Inter-integrated circuit (I2C) module
  • On-chip voltage regulator (VREG) for regulation of input supply and internal voltages
  • 64-pin and 100-pin LQFP

Pricing and availability
Freescale plans to offer samples of the S12HY MCUs to selected customers in December 2008. For pricing information, contact local Freescale sales representatives. For more information about Freescale’s S12 and S12HY MCU families, visit www.freescale.com/files/pr/automotive .

From: http://freescale.com



Publication date: 06.11.2008


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