NEC Electronics 78K0/Lx3-M Microcontrollers
NEC Electronics introduced the 78K0/Lx3-M 8-bit All Flash LCD microcontrollers (MCUs). The 78K0/Lx3-M MCUs feature an integrated metrology engine that provides energy measurement and management functions for smart electricity meters. Samples of the new MCUs are scheduled for availability in January 2010. SPricing for 10,000-unit quantities starts at $3.45 each. Mass production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2010.
The 78K0/Lx3-M chips will simplify smart meter designs for homes around the world, contributing to efficient energy usage and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. The 64-pin 78K0/LE3-M microcontroller comes in a 10 millimeter (mm) x 10mm low-profile quad flat package (LQFP) and is designed for single-phase 2-wire electricity meters, while the, 100-pin 78K0/LG3-M microcontroller comes in a 14mm x 14mm LQFP and is designed for single-phase 3-wire electricity meters.
NEC Electronics’ 78K0/Lx3-M microcontrollers simplify smart electricity meter designs by offering a rich set of integrated analog and digital peripherals. The metrology engine consists of a high-precision 24-bit delta-sigma analog-to-digital (A/D) converter; power calculation hardware with calibration capability; power quality management circuits to detect power outages, current peaks, and voltage peaks; and anti-tampering circuits to ensure the integrity of power usage data. The devices also come with an LCD controller, able to drive up to a 160-segment display, and Flash memory ranging from 16 kilobytes (KB) to 60 KB. The 78K0/Lx3-M microcontrollers can manage communication sub-systems through various serial interfaces.
More info: NEC Electronics
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