Freescale expands S08 microcontroller family

8-bit QA4 and QA2 devices designed to reduce cost, board space and power consumption for designers looking to do more for less

AUSTIN, Texas. – Freescale Semiconductor is extending its popular low-end, 8-bit HCS08 microcontroller (MCU) family with the introduction of the high-performance MC9S08QA4 (QA4) and MC9S08QA2 (QA2) MCUs. Offering 4KB and 2KB of flash memory and 256B/160B of RAM respectively, the highly integrated QA4 and QA2 MCUs provide an entry point into Freescale’s S08 family, expanding design flexibility for small-package, low-pin-count devices.

The QA4/QA2 devices are ideal for general-purpose consumer and industrial applications ranging from motor control to portable health care. By achieving a decreased flash memory voltage level of 1.8 to 3.3V, Freescale is supplying customers with advanced 8-bit MCU capabilities designed to enhance the performance of battery-backed designs.

The QA4/QA2 devices offer a robust support environment and pin-compatible migration within Freescale’s MCU portfolio when designers need to extend functionality. Shared peripherals and a common set of development tools help make it quick and easy for engineers to leverage their design investments.

MC9S08QA4 product features

* 4KB flash memory
* 256B RAM
* S08 8-bit CPU @ 20MHz
* Voltage range 1.8V to 3.3V
* Flash-based EEPROM
* 4 general-purpose I/O (GPIO), plus 1 input-only I/O and 1 output-only I/O
* Enhanced serial communications interface (SCI)
* Serial peripheral interface (SPI)
* 10-bit ADC with internal reference voltage
* On-chip temperature sensor
* Integrated clock source (ICS) up to 10 MHz internal bus operation with 2 percent deviation over full temperature and voltage range
* 1-channel 16-bit timers
* Available in an 8-pin package
* Operating temperature: -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C

Speeding system development
To help customers speed and simplify development, Freescale offers a complimentary Special Edition of its CodeWarrior® development studio optimized for HCS08 core MCUs, such as the MC9S08QA4. The studio is included with the DEMO9S08QA4 demo board and also is available for download online at no charge. Designers can use these tools to help streamline application design from the moment they open the box. It features an intuitive, state-of-the-art project manager and build system; a highly optimized compiler; a graphical, source-level debugger; integrated profiling capabilities; a full chip simulator, and more.

Pricing and availability
Samples of the QA4 and QA2 devices are available now in production quantities. Suggested resale pricing for 10,000-piece quantities of the MC9S08QA4 is 73 cents (USD). Suggested resale pricing for the DEMO9S08QA4E demonstration board is $69 (USD).

For more information about the QA4 and to receive a complimentary download of CodeWarrior, Special Edition, visit www.freescale.com/files/pr/8bit.html.