Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced the 8-bit embedded chips offering the industry's 
first single-chip implementation of a FLEX(TM)*1 decoder*2 and 8-bit microcontroller for 
pagers, and portable products equipped with pager functions, compatible with the 
FLEX high-speed pager communication protocol.  Sample shipments will begin in September 
2000 in Japan. 
                       
In recent years, the FLEX system proposed by U.S. manufacturer Motorola, Inc. has  come 
to be the industry standard for the pager market in Asian regions such as China, and in 
America, and services are become more diversified, with an increased number of transmission 
characters, for instance.  And the trends of higher performance, higher functionality, and 
functional integration, have been accompanied by a trend toward lower costs. As a result, 
there is a need for semiconductor devices, too, to be able not only to provide FLEX 
compatibility but also to improve system performance and functionality and there is a 
demand for smaller, lighter, lower-cost systems achieved through the use of fewer components.

To meet this market need, Hitachi has now introduced licensing of the FLEX decoder core 
(G1.9) from Motorola, and has completed commercial development of the 8-bit embedded chips.  
These devices required external connection of a special decoder IC in order to provide FLEX 
compatibility, but with a FLEX decoder core and 8-bit CPU provided on a single chip, 
the 8-bit embedded chips eliminates the need for an external decoder IC and makes it possible 
to produce a small, lightweight pager system at low cost.  In addition, the on-chip 
FLEX decoder is Version G1.9 compliant, providing support for both roaming and non-roaming 
systems, while the single-chip implementation renders unnecessary the anti-noise design 
previously essential for the interface circuit between the control microcontroller and the 
external decoder IC.

High-speed operation, with a 2 MHz oscillation frequency and 1 MHz internal operating speed, 
is achieved at a low 1.8 V power supply voltage, and a comprehensive set of peripheral 
functions is provided, including five kinds of timers (watchdog timer included), a serial 
communication interface, and a 10-bit resolution A/D converter, making it possible to 
configure a pager system with a single chip.  FLEXStack(TM)*3 driver software for the FLEX 
decoder will be available.


The product lineup of eight models, including roaming*4 and non-roaming products, 
comprises two ZTAT(R)*5 models with 60 kbytes of ROM and 2 kbytes of RAM, and six mask 
ROM models with 40  to 60 kbytes of mask ROM and 2 kbytes of RAM.  Two 100-pin plastic 
package types are available - a 0.5 mm pin-pitch TQFP (14 mm x 14 mm) and 0.4 mm pin-pitch 
TQFP (12 mm x 12 mm)- that enable a compact system size to be achieved.

Hitachi is also developing an embedded chip with on-chip FLEX decoder and 16-bit 
microcontroller, designed for higher performance, as a high-end model.

Notes:	1.FLEX(TM): FLEX is a trademark of Motorola, Inc. of the U.S.A.  FLEX is the name 
          of a pager communication protocol proposed by Motorola that offers a maximum 
          speed of 6,400 bits/second as opposed to the previous data communication speed 
          of 1,200 bits/second.
	2.FLEX(TM) decoder: A decoder unit for the FLEX system (see note 2 below) that 
          performs audible calling, or non-audible calling by means of a flashing light, 
          etc., for receive data from the wireless reception unit (RF unit), displays call 
          information on an LCD display unit, and so forth.
	3.FLEXStack(TM): FLEXStack is a trademark of Motorola, Inc. of the U.S.A.
	4.Roaming: With this facility, in case of the user of a mobile phone, pager, or 
          other mobile communication device communicates in the service area of another 
          communication company with which the user does not have a usage contract, 
          communication can be achieved by transfer to the communication company with 
          which the user has a usage contract.
	5. ZTAT(R) (Zero Turn Around Time): ZTAT is a registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd.

< Typical Applications >
  Communication products (mobile phones, pagers, composite devices, etc.)
  Consumer electronics products (illuminated notice boards, price display boards, 
  information display boards on commercial vehicles such as taxi.)

Note: X: 0.5 mm pin-pitch TQFP, W: 0.4 mm pin-pitch TQFP