MCU Kits Assist Designers Using ARM Cortex-M3-Based Stellaris

Four kits supporting the fourth generation of ARM Cortex-M3-based Stellaris microcontrollers allow developers to immediately begin their designs, leveraging the advanced connectivity, data efficiency, and motion-control features of the 32-bit MCUs. Each kit includes the comprehensive StellarisWare Peripheral Driver Library, Graphics Library, USB Library, and code examples. Each also contains an 80-MHz Stellaris MCU with 256k flash, 96k SRAM, the StellarisWare software in ROM, and integrated Ethernet, USB On-the-Go/Host/Device, and CAN. The LM3S9B90 and LM3S9B92 Ethernet+USB-OTG Evaluation Kits include two boards for a simple out-of-the-box experience: an In-Circuit Debug Interface board and the 36- by 102-mm EK-LM3S9B90 or EK-LM3S9B92 evaluation board. For applications requiring power-saving modes, the LM3S9B90 MCU features a hibernation module for extended periods of inactivity. For applications requiring more simultaneous access to peripherals and advanced motion control, the LM3S9B92 MCU features eight PWM outputs for motion and energy and two Quadrature Encoder Inputs modules, along with options for maximal peripheral connectivity. Both kits cost $99. The DK-LM3S9B96 Development Kit features the highly integrated LM3S9B96 MCU and includes a 3.5-in. landscape QVGA TFT color LCD graphics display and thumbwheel potentiometer. It includes two External Peripheral Interface (EPI) daughter boards, one with 8 Mbytes of SDR SDRAM and one with access to all 32 EPI pins. The kit costs $425. The 3.5-in. landscape single-board computer intelligent display reference design kit (RDK-IDM-SBC) offers a cost- and form-factor-optimized example of a human machine interface touch display panel for embedded control devices. The kit costs $299. All kits are available from stock from Digi-Key and Mouser. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Austin, TX. (972) 644-5580.