Motherboard Module Acts As System Controller

Combining analog circuitry with a Rabbit processor, the RCM3400 RabbitCore module mounts directly onto user-designed motherboards where it acts as the controlling processor for the user's system. The tiny, 1.37" x 1.16" module can interface with various types of CMOS-compatible digital devices through the motherboard and also comes with a 10/100Base-T reference design. The analog core module features a Rabbit 3000-based CPU subsystem running at 29.44 MHz with 512K of flash and 512K of SRAM or 256K of each memory, plus five serial ports and eight channels of 12-bit A/D with programmable gain. The module also contains a clock spectrum spreader that is said to practically eliminate EMI problems and comes with a pre-assigned MAC I.D. so as to be Ethernet-ready. The 8-bit core module requires a 3.3V supply with 5V-tolerant I/O and also comes equipped with a quadrature decoder, PWM outputs and pulse capture capabilities. Two 34-pin headers provide 47 digital I/O shared with the five serial ports. The RCM3400 also features a battery-backable real-time clock, glueless memory and I/O interfacing, and low-power sleep modes. Price: $39 each/1,000. A development kit containing a RCM3400 with 512K of flash and SRAM, a prototyping board with 10/100Base-T Ethernet, and a Dynamic C SE development system is also available. Price: $399. RABBIT SEMICONDUCTOR, Davis, CA. (530) 757-8400.