Ultra-low-power MPUs offer high-performance connectivity and user interface apps

Mouser now stocks the SAM9X70 ultra-low-power MPUs from Microchip Technology. Incorporating high performance and low power with low system cost and high-value integration, the series of MPUs provides an exceptional array of connectivity options, enriched user interface capabilities and state-of-the-art security features, all wrapped around a powerful 800MHz Arm Thumb processor.

The MPUs offer an ARM926EJ-S Core, with the CPU running up to 800MHz and system processing up to 266MHz. The on-chip memories are supplied as a 176-Kbyte internal ROM, a 64-Kbyte internal SRAM, a DDR3(L)/DDR2 controller and an EBI. The MPUs also support various NVM interfaces, including NAND Flash, Quad SPI and eMMC Flash. The MPUs achieve ultra-low power from the RTC,32-bit GP registers, clock generators, power management controllers, and software-programmable ultra-low power modes and optimisation capabilities.

Apart from its processing and robust ultra-low-power features, what sets the series on another level of performance is its expansive set of peripheral interfaces available on-chip. The MPUs provide a 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet interface with TSN connectivity support that delivers deterministic messaging on standard Ethernet. The devices also offer MIPI-DSI, LVDS, RGB and 2D graphics, MIPI-CSI-2, Gigabit Ethernet with TSN and CAN-FD for connectivity and user interface applications. Other connectivity options include an LCD controller, an image sensor controller, thirteen FLEXCOMs, an ADC, PWM, one high-speed USB device/three high-speed USB hosts and more.

Along with the series connectivity peripherals are state-of-the-art security functions such as Secure Boot capability with OTP to effectively keep secret keys hidden from unauthorised users and high-performance crypto accelerators (SHA, AES and TDES) to protect classified information and encrypt sensitive data. Other security elements include tamper protection and a physical unclonable function or PUF that generates on-demand keys that can be instantaneously erased once used.

The MPUs are available in a 240-ball BGA package. These MPUs are ideally suited for IoT applications, automotive, connectivity devices and user interfaces. The series is supported by Microchip MPLAB-X development tools, Harmony, Linux distributions and the Ensemble Graphics Toolkit. When paired with PMICs, such as the MCP16501 and MCP16502, the SAM9X70's power sequencing capabilities supply a thoroughly tested power management solution.