Freescale extends popular 16-bit microcontroller portfolio into entry-level automotive market

Advanced S12P family with integrated CAN and QFN package option targets cost-sensitive, space-constrained central body applications

SHANGHAI, China (China International Automotive Electronics Products & Technologies Show). – Building on the market success of its popular S12 core, Freescale Semiconductor has introduced the latest addition to its expanding 16-bit automotive microcontroller (MCU) portfolio. The advanced S12P family is Freescale’s most recent 16-bit MCU with integrated controller area network (CAN) functionality, bridging the gap between 8-bit and 16-bit devices for the automotive market.

The MC9S12P family delivers the exceptional performance benefits of a 16-bit MCU while supporting the entry-level pricing, low power consumption, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and code-size efficiencies of an 8-bit MCU. The S12P family is ideal for a wide range of central body control applications, such as window lifts, seat controllers, sunroofs, door modules, low-end anti-lock brake systems (ABS), electronic power steering (EPS) and watchdog control.

“Freescale’s S12P MCUs offer a powerful, feature-rich entry point into the 16-bit CAN application market,” said Paul Grimme, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller Solutions Group. “The S12P family is well suited for cost-sensitive body control applications in entry-level automobiles being developed for rapidly growing, emerging markets, such as China and India.”

The scalable S12P family offers developers a range of price/performance options for their application needs, with on-chip flash scaling from 32KB to 128KB. 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.

In addition to offering scalable 16-bit performance, the S12P family is available in a small-footprint 7mm x 7mm 48-pin “punch” QFN packaging option that is optimized for space-constrained applications. By offering exposed leads, QFN punch packaging enhances visual inspection during final assembly and helps minimize the need for costly X-ray inspections.

The S12 MCU family is the most widely adopted 16-bit architecture in the automotive market. Freescale has shipped more than 300 million 16-bit S12 and S12X automotive MCUs to date, and S12-based devices continue to ship at a rate of more than 100 million units per year.

Software and tools ecosystem
The S12P family leverages and expands on the extensive suite of hardware and software development tools available today for the S12 and S12X families. Cost-effective S12P family demonstration boards are available, as well as adapter boards for the existing full-featured EVB9S12XEP100 evaluation kits. Freescale’s CodeWarrior® Development Tool Suite and a range of third-party development software support also are available for rapid application development.

S12P MCU features

* S12 core, 32 MHz bus
* Up to 128K of on-chip flash with ECC
* Up to 6K RAM
* 4K DataFlash® with ECC
* 1 MSCAN module supporting CAN protocol 2.0 A/B
* 1 SCI supporting LIN communications
* 1 SPI
* 8-channel, 16-bit timer supporting input capture, output compare, counter and pulse accumulator functions
* 10-channel, 12-bit resolution successive analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
* Pulse width modulation (PWM) module with 6 x 8-bit channels
* Phase locked loop (PLL) frequency multiplier with internal filter
* 4-16 MHz amplitude controlled Pierce oscillator
* 1 MHz internal RC oscillator
* Autonomous periodic interrupt (API)

Pricing and availability
Samples of the S12P MCUs are available now. For pricing information, contact local Freescale sales representatives. For more information about Freescale’s S12 and S12P MCU families, visit www.freescale.com/files/pr/s12p.html.