Philips Electronics introduced two new members of the LPC900 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) family. Tiny, yet offering functionality and performance, the new devices are available in a 10-lead HVSON package. The dimensions mirror the smallest 8-bit microcontrollers at 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.85mm3. The LPC9102 and the LPC9103 are designed with space-constrained applications in mind, incorporating many system-level functions on-chip, such as a high-accuracy internal RC oscillator, brown-out detect, power-on reset and peripherals such as 8-bit ADC, comparator and UART, reducing the total component count in the system.

The combination of price, performance and functionality make the new LPC910x devices suitable for applications ranging from white goods to environmental or security sensors and toys, as well as for industrial or medical instrument probes where space is extremely limited.

The highly-integrated devices feature byte-erasable Flash which can eliminate the need for a separate EEPROM. Having an accurate internal RC oscillator (7.3728MHz, 1% accuracy) and an integrated UART enables an elegant RS-232 implementation. With eight of the 10 I/O leads on the package easily configurable by the user, the LPC9102 and LPC9103 double the functionality and I/O leads of MCUs of similar physical size.

"Smaller than the top of a pushpin, the LP910x family packs a big punch. This is all about integrating external functions on-chip, thus saving space and power," said Joe Yu, strategic marketing director, Standard ICs Business Line, Microcontrollers Product Line, Philips Semiconductors. "As a result, our customers are able to make smaller, thinner and more intelligent products at the price point suitable for high-volume consumer products or even disposable electronics."