1999-03-29 ,
Press Releases From Customers/Partners

8xC557Ex Family Offers More RAM, Memory, and Embedded Features

SUNNYVALE, Calif. - March 29, 1999 - Philips Semiconductors, the world's largest provider of 80C51 microcontrollers, has reinforced its popular family with three analog-to-digital (A/D) microcontroller derivatives. The 8xC557Ex microcontroller family has more RAM, program memory and embedded features giving designers the ability to develop more sophisticated and complex applications that utilize high-level languages. These devices feature a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter, and low electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and other embedded features that make them ideal for consumer and sensitive commercial or industrial applications.

"In this competitive market, our customers are required to introduce products with more features in a continually shorter time-to-market. This means they need microcontrollers with more embedded features such as A/D and watchdog timers to support these sophisticated processes," said Geoff Lees, director of marketing for Philips Semiconductors Microcontroller Business Line. "These MCUs have substantially more program memory and RAM so that design engineers can develop applications faster by using high-level languages and can be more concerned with the operation of the microcontroller in their application than the size of their program."

The 83C557E4 with 32 Kbytes of program memory and 1024 bytes of RAM,83CE557E6 with 48 Kbytes of program memory and 1536 bytes of RAM and 8xCE557E8 with 64 Kbytes of program memory and 2048 bytes of RAM are based on the world's most popular 8-bit architecture, the 80C51. All three devices feature an embedded 10-bit A/D, I²C serial bus interface, watchdog timer, pulse-width modulation (PWM), UART, low EMI, and 3 counter/timers. There is a ROM-less version (80CE557Ex) and programmable versions (OTP-87CE55E8 and Flash-89C557E4). All are available in 80-pin plastic quad flat pack (PQFP) packages. The 8xC557Ex family is fully compatible with the Philips Semiconductors' 8xCE558, 8xCE559 and 8xCE560.

	Program Memory	RAM	Memory Type
80CE557E4	-	1024 Bytes	ROM-less
83CE557E4	32 Kbytes	1024 Bytes	ROM
89CE557E4	32 Kbytes	1024 Bytes	Flash
80CE557E6	-	1536 Bytes	ROM-less
83CE557E6	48 Kbytes	1536 Bytes	ROM
80CE557E8	-	2048 Bytes	ROM-less
83CE557E8	64 Kbytes	2048 Bytes	ROM
87CE557E8	64 Kbytes	2048 Bytes	OTP

 8xC557Ex Family of Microcontrollers

 P8XC557E4
P8XC557E6
 P8XC557E8

The devices include a 10-bit, 8-channel A/D converter with pulse-width modulation meaning they can support applications requiring the measurement of a high-resolution analog parameter such as temperature. The low EMI feature allows the device to be particularly effective where internal electrical noise is a problem or there is a concern about the applications interference with other devices. These devices support the 400kHz version of I²C bus. I²C serial bus is very popular in consumer and industrial applications, making these MCUs easier to implement in an I²C application and compatible with over 100 such I²C devices on the market today.

Pricing and Availability
All versions of the 8xC557Ex are available now on a worldwide basis through Philips Semiconductors' sales offices and its extensive distribution network. Datasheets are available on the WWW. For more information and questions on these products, send an email to  80C51_help@sv.sc.philips.com.

About Philips Semiconductors MCU Business Line
Philips Semiconductors is the world's leading supplier of the most popular 8-bit microcontroller architecture, the 80C51, offering more than 100 derivatives. Cahners In-Stat Group, a high-technology market research firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, reported Philips Semiconductors' 80C51 sales of US $416 million in 1997, a 42 percent share of the 80C51 8-bit microcontroller market. Philips Semiconductors has recently extended this successful architecture into 16-bit performance with its XA. Now customers can preserve their software, development tools and technology investment in the 80C51 while capitalizing on the 16-bit performance requirements in a market expected to double in the next two years.

About Philips Semiconductors
Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world (according to Dataquest's preliminary 1998 ranking by sales). Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be found on the home page at www.semiconductors.philips.com

For questions or more information,  send an email