The 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) isn't dead yet. Products like Sharp Microelectronics' LZ87010 pop up regularly. The LZ87010 has an array of analog and digital peripherals around an 8051 core that executes most instructions in two cycles. On-chip memory consists of 4.25 kbytes of SRAM and 64 kbytes of self-programmable flash. Analog support includes eight channels of 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion, two independent digital-to-analog channels with 128-byte waveform generator RAMs, and 16 high-current outputs. Digital peripherals include six 16-bit timer/counters with pulse-width modulation support, two UARTs, and an I2C serial interface. The LZ87010 costs $8.00 in 25,000-unit quantities. Samples are available now with production quantities slated for the first quarter of 2003.
Sharp Microelectronics of America Inc., www.sharpma.com; (360) 834-2500.