Toshiba Introduces ARM® Cortex®-M3 Microcontrollers “TXZ+TM Family Advanced Class” with 1MB Code Flash Memory Supporting Firmware Updates without Interrupting Microcontroller Operation

KAWASAKI, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba”) has added new products “M3H group (2)” to the “M3H group” of the 32-bit microcontroller product group “TXZ+^TM Family Advanced Class” equipped with Cortex^®-M3 using the 40nm process.

In recent years, the need for larger program capacity and support for FOTA (Firmware update Over The Air) has been increasing. This is driven by the penetration of digital technology, especially in the IoT (Internet of Things) area, and by the increasingly advanced functionality required in various devices. The new products M3H group (2) has expanded the code flash memory capacity from 512KB (partially 256KB or 384KB) of the Toshiba’s existing products M3H group (1) to 1MB^[1], and the RAM capacity from 66KB^[2] of the Toshiba’s existing products M3H group (1) to 130KB^[2]. Other features, such as an ARM^® Cortex^®-M3 core running up to 120MHz, integrated code flash, and 32KB data flash memory with 100K program/erase cycle endurance have been maintained. These microcontrollers also offer various interface and motor control options, such as UART, I²C interface, Advanced Encoder Input Circuit, and Advanced Programmable Motor Control Circuit. Toshiba’s lineup of Microcontrollers in the M3H group contribute to IoT and advanced functionality in a wide range of applications including motors, home appliances, and industrial equipment.

In the new products, the 1MB^[1] code flash is implemented with two separate areas of 512KB each. This implementation allows instructions to be read from one area, while the updated code is programmed into the other area in parallel. Finally, the firmware rotation function is realized by the area swap function^[3].

The M3H group products are equipped with UART, TSPI, I²C interface, 2-unit DMAC and an LCD Display Controller^[4] to meet the requirements from a variety of consumer or industrial applications. To support various kinds of sensing, the new products have maximum 21 channels of 12-bit high-speed, high-precision analog/digital converter (ADC), that are selectable from two sample hold time for each analog input pin. In addition, they are suitable for controlling AC motors and brushless DC motors in combination with an advanced Programmable Motor Control Circuit and Advanced Encoder Input Circuit that can operate synchronously with the high-speed, high-precision 12-bit analog/digital converter.

The self-diagnosis functions incorporated in the devices for flash memory, RAM, ADC and Clock help customers to achieve IEC 60730 Class B functional safety certification.

Documentation, sample software with actual usage examples, and driver software that controls the interfaces for each peripheral are available. Evaluation boards and development environments are provided in cooperation with ARM^® global ecosystem partners.

Applications

• For the main control of consumer equipment (home appliances, toys, health care equipment etc.) and office equipment (multi-function printers, etc.)
• For the motor control of consumer equipment, industrial equipment
• For IoT of consumer equipment, industrial equipment, etc.

Features

• High-performance ARM^® Cortex^®-M3 core, max 120MHz
• Increased capacity of internal memory
  
  Code flash memory capacity: 1MB^[1]
  
  RAM capacity: 130KB^[2]
• Area swap method firmware rotation function, supporting firmware updates while the microcontroller continues to operate^[3].
• Self-diagnosis functions for IEC 60730 class B functional safety
• Extensive package lineup

Main Specifications

Product group name		M3H group (2)
CPU core		ARM® Cortex®-M3 ‒ memory protection unit (MPU)
Maximum operating frequency		120MHz
Internal oscillator	Oscillation frequency	10MHz (+/-1%)
Internal memory	Code flash memory	1024KB[1] (Program/erase cycles: up to 100,000 times) Area swap method firmware rotation function with two separate code flash areas of 512KB each[3]
	Data flash memory	32KB (Program/erase cycles: up to 100,000 times)
	RAM	128KB and Backup RAM 2KB, with parity
I/O port		56 to 134
External interrupt		12 to 23 factors
DMA Controller (DMAC)		DMA requests: 2 units, 54 to 64 factors, internal/external triggers
Timer function	32-bit Timer Event Counter (T32A)	8 channels (16 channels if used as 16-bit timer)
	Real Time Clock (RTC)	1 channel
Communication function	UART	7 to 8 channels
	I2C interface (I2C)	2 to 4 channels
	TSPI	1 to 5 channels
Analog function	12-bit AD Converter	12 to 21 channels inputs
	8-bit DA Converter	2 channels
	Comparator	1 channel
Motor control circuits	Advanced Programmable Motor Control Circuit (A-PMD)	1 channel
	Advanced Encoder Input Circuit (32-bit) (A-ENC32)	1 channel
Other peripherals circuits	Remote Control Signal Preprocessor (RMC)	1 channel
	CRC Calculation Circuit (CRC)	1 channel, CRC32, CRC16
	LCD Display Controller (DLCD)	Non-Bias Drive: 40 segments × 4 commons (max)[4]
System function	Watchdog Timer (SIWDT)	1 channel
	Voltage Detection Circuit (LVD)	1 channel
	Oscillation Frequency Detector (OFD)	1 channel
On Chip Debug function		JTAG / SWD
Operating voltage		2.7 to 5.5V, single voltage supply
Package / Pin		LQFP144 (20mm x 20mm, 0.5mm pitch) LQFP128 (14mm x 14mm, 0.4mm pitch) LQFP128 (14mm x 20mm, 0.5mm pitch) LQFP100 (14mm x 14mm, 0.5mm pitch) QFP100 (14mm x 20mm, 0.65mm pitch) LQFP80 (12mm x 12mm, 0.5mm pitch) LQFP64 (10mm x 10mm, 0.5mm pitch)

Notes:

[1] Code flash memory capacity of TMPM3HNFDBFG is one 512KB area.

[2] Includes 2KB of backup RAM.

[3] TMPM3HNFDBFG is not supported.

[4] TMPM3HLF10BUG has no LCD Display Controller.

Follow the link below for more on the new product.

M3H group (2)

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba’s Microcontrollers.

Microcontrollers

* ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere.

* TXZ+™ is a trademark of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation.

* Other company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

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