AMD adds 50-mhz Am186 embedded controller
Am186ER microprocessor features 32KB on-chip SRAM for higher performance, lower
costs
AMD today introduced the highest performance member of the Am186 microcontroller family,
the 50-MHz Am186ER microprocessor. With a 25 percent faster clock speed than previous
models and the addition of 32 KB on-chip Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), the
Am186ER microprocessor is rated at 6.6 MIPs and delivers 386-class performance at a
16-bit price. The new microprocessor is ideally suited for the ever-increasing CPU
requirements of a broad range of embedded communications, mass storage and general
embedded applications. The Am186ER is the latest in AMD's Am186 family of
microprocessors which offers developers high-performance chips supported by world-class
development tools that enable shorter product development cycles and faster time to market
for AMD's OEM customers.
"The Am186ER microprocessor is a cost-effective, high-performance product designed to
give developers the power they need for tomorrow's embedded applications," said Rex Meek,
Director of Marketing and Systems Engineering for the Am186 family of microprocessors. "We
listened to our developers, and the Am186ER incorporates the features they want as well as a
significant speed increase."
"IBM Storage Systems Divisions and AMD enjoy a long-standing relationship based on the
Am186/88 family of processors," said David Foote, manager of disk drive controller
development at IBM SSD in San Jose, Calif. "With improved technology and on-chip SRAM,
AMD's newest Am186ER microprocessor offers a level of integration that delivers lower
power, better performance, reduced system cost and increased reliability."
In addition to the faster processor speed, the 32 KB of SRAM on the chip helps developers
reduce system costs, lower system power requirements and save board space in the design
cycle. "Integration of 32 kilobytes of on-chip SRAM allows us eliminate two external SRAMs
from our card, which saves cost and power," says IBM's Foote. Eliminating external SRAM
also simplifies inventory management during production and reduces assembly cost.
Based on AMD's proven Am186 microprocessor core, which has shipped over 30 million
units, the Am186ER microcontroller integrates commonly required peripheral logic found in
most embedded systems as well as 32KB of zero wait state SRAM. The Am186ER
microcontroller features an asynchronous serial port, a synchronous serial interface, DMA,
Timers, an Interrupt Controller, general purpose programmable I/Os and chip selects, including
a glueless interface to external RAM/ROM. As a 3.3-Volt (V) optimized part, power
consumption is substantially reduced while the ability to interface with 5V devices is retained
through 5V tolerant I/Os. The Am186ER microcontroller is also offered in an 8-bit version, the
Am188*ER microcontroller. |
