NEC Electronics Announces New Body Control MCUs for Automotive Applications

New MCUs Offer Up to 1 MB of Embedded Flash Memory for Advanced Body Applications

NEC Electronics today announced a new line of microcontrollers (MCUs) based on the company’s 0.15 micron process technology with embedded flash memory optimized for automotive body and safety control applications, the Fx2 series of 8-bit MCUs and Fx3 series of 32-bit MCUs.

“In recent years, there has been a rapid development in automotive body applications to enhance the safety and comfort of passengers.  Systems including air conditioning, wiper controls, power windows, sliding doors, seat controls, smart keyless entry systems, anti-theft mechanisms and intelligent airbag systems have all increased in sophistication,” said Yoshirou Miyaji, general manager, Automotive Systems Division, NEC Electronics Corp.  “Accordingly, customers are looking for electronic components that can support increased body application functionality.  NEC Electronics first addressed this need with the Fx2 series of MCUs, and to date, NEC Electronics has shipped more than 2.2 million of these devices to over 30 automotive electronics customers worldwide.  We’re excited to provide these same customers with the next-generation capabilities of the Fx3 series.”

The new product line-up is comprised of 29 devices:  13 based on the 78K0™ 8-bit CPU core and 16 devices based on the V850ES™ 32-bit CPU core.  The devices are available in pin counts ranging from 44 to 176 pins, and memory configurations from 32 KB up to 1 MB Flash.  The 78K0 series uses SuperFlash® technology by Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.  based on the target application, all products support the CAN and LIN protocol.  The products in the Fx3 series of MCUs are pin compatible with NEC Electronics’ previous-generation Fx2 series of MCUs.  This will provide current Fx2 customers with a smooth migration path to the Fx3 series devices.

Availability
Samples of the 78K0/Fx2 series are available now with volume production scheduled for October 2006. Samples of the V850ES/Fx3 series will be available in coming months with volume production scheduled for December 2006.  Combined volume production for the new devices is expected to reach 2 million units per month in 2009.

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NEC Electronics, NEC Electronics America and NEC Electronics (Europe) are either registered trademarks or trademarks of NEC Electronics Corporation in the United Statesand/or other countries. SuperFlash is a registered trademark of Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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