Toshiba announces first ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller

Device is first in a series of Cortex-M3 micros

October 6, 2008 -- Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has announced a general-purpose ARM Cortex™-M3 core-based microcontroller suitable for digital AV applications. The device is the first in a full line-up of Cortex-M3 devices that will become available during 2009 and is the first ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller from a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer. Samples will be available in December 2008 and mass production will start in March 2009.

The new TMPM330FDFG general-purpose microcontroller with ARM 32- bit CPU for embedded applications has an HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) channel enabling interdependent control of digital AV applications through a single cable. It also has a function for handling a remote control signal. Signals such as CEC signals and remote control signals that support various formats have conventionally been processed in software. Now these signals can be processed by hardware under conditions where the host CPU is stopped, thereby reducing the standby power consumption. Toshiba’s original low-power consumption flash memory, NANO FLASHTM, is used as on-chip ROM to enable high-performance, low power consumption operation with the Cortex-M3 core.

Developed for embedded applications by ARM Ltd., the core adopted by Toshiba offers exceptional interrupt handling, high code efficiency and low power consumption. Therefore, it can achieve 32-bit performance at cost levels equivalent to a 16-bit core. In addition, development tools for this core are available from many vendors.

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