8-Bit Microcontroller Touts ISP Capability

An in-system programming (ISP) capability highlights the new VRS1000-40 8-bit 8051-based microcontroller. Thanks to its hardware features and powerful instruction set, the VRS1000-40 serves as a versatile controller for applications that require up to 36 I/O pins and 64 kbytes of flash memory for either program, data, or both. To program the on-chip flash memory, a commercial writer is available. Also, the on-chip flash memory can be programmed through a serial or parallel interface with the ISP feature. The unit has an operating voltage range of 4.5 through 5.5 V, and a 5-V program voltage. In addition to flash memory, the controller contains 1024 bytes of on-chip data RAM. Additional features include three 16-bit timer-counters, a watchdog timer, and a full duplex serial channel. The VRS1000-40, available in 44-PLCC and 44-QFP packages, is pin-compatible with other 8051-based microcontrollers. In 1000-unit quantities, it costs $3.40 each.