Embedded CEC function reduces current consumption by a factor of 1,000:
Milton Keynes (UK) – NEC Electronics (Distribution by Gleichmann Sunrise) has presented its first four 16-bit All Flash microcontrollers with integrated consumer electronics control (CEC) unit and remote control receiver unit.

CEC enables, via a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), the interdependent control of digital televisions, DVD recorders and other devices via a single cable connection.

The benefit of the new 78K0R/KF3-C and 78K0R/KG3-C 16-bit microcontrollers is not only in reducing the effort to develop control software, the first-time implementation of the CEC functions in hardware also leads to a radical reduction of current consumption because the CPU of the microcontroller is no longer burdened by continuously monitoring the system status. With a minimum current consumption of only 0.5 µA compared to around 0.5 mA in previous solutions, a factor of 1,000 times improvement could be achieved with the new devices.

Because the embedded CEC receiver and the remote control receiver are implemented in hardware, the signals from both units - CEC and remote control - can be simultaneously processed. This in turn significantly improves the system operability.

The microcontrollers, which are clocked at 20 MHz, are available with up to 128 Kbytes of Flash memory and 8 Kbytes RAM and feature – in common with all 16-bit MCUs of the 78K0R/Kx3 series – a first‑class power/performance ratio of only 1.8 mW/MIPS. Furthermore, features such as the 3‑stage pipeline enable the CISC architecture high processing speeds of up to 13 MIPS. At 20 MHz clock frequency, the minimum execution time is not more than 50 ns.

The standard configuration also includes a low voltage detector, an internal oscillator, a power-on-clear (POC) function and single-voltage Flash memory.

The same evaluation boards and on-chip debuggers, which NEC Electronics offers for all of its 16‑bit microcontrollers, are available for the four new devices. Furthermore, a special additional CEC monitor software program, which will allow simulation of the CEC functions, is being developed.

The 78K0R/KF3-C units are available in an 80-pin LQFP and the 78K0R/KG3-C in a 100‑pin LQFP. Shipment of first samples is planned for the fourth quarter of 2008 and availability of production quantities for the middle of 2009.