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.)
< Prices in Japan > (For Reference)
Product Code | ROM size | Sample Unit Price (Yen) |
ZTAT(R) version | 60 kbytes | Roaming type | HD6473937RX | 1,750 |
HD6473937RW | 1,750 |
Non-roaming type | HD6473937X | 1,600 |
HD6473937W | 1,600 |
Mask ROM version | 60 kbytes | Roaming type | HD6433937RX | 980 |
HD6433937RW | 980 |
Non-roaming type | HD6433937X | 920 |
HD6433937W | 920 |
48 kbytes | Roaming type | HD6433936RX | 950 |
HD6433936RW | 950 |
Non-roaming type | HD6433936X | 890 |
HD6433936W | 890 |
40 kbytes | Roaming type | HD6433935RX | 920 |
HD6433935RW | 920 |
Non-roaming type | HD6433935X | 860 |
HD6433935W | 860 |
Note: X: 0.5 mm pin-pitch TQFP, W: 0.4 mm pin-pitch TQFP
[Supplementary Information]
< Specifications >
Item | Specification |
| ZTAT(R) version | Mask ROM version |
| Roaming type | HD6473937 R | HD6433937 R | HD6433936 R | HD6433935 R |
| Non-roaming type | HD6473937 | HD6433937 | HD6433936 | HD6433935 |
Process | 0.6 um CMOS |
Oscillation frequency/power supply voltage | 2 MHz to 10 MHz/1.8 V to 3.6 V |
Operating temperature | -20¡î to +75¡î |
Memory | ROM (bytes) | 60 k | 60 k | 48 k | 40 k |
RAM (bytes) | 2 k | 2 k | 2 k | 2 k |
FLEX decoder II | On-chip FLEX decoder II (FLEX protocol G1.9 compliant) |
Timers | 8-bit interval timer/time base: 1 channel |
8-bit interval timer/auto-reload timer: 1 channel |
16-bit output compare/event counter: 1 channel |
8-bit interval timer/input capture: 1 channel |
Watchdog timer: 1 channel |
Serial communication interface | 8-bit clock synchronous/asynchronous: 2 channels |
A/D converter | 10-bit resolution A/D converter x 8 channels |
I/O ports | Input/output | 59 |
Input | 8 |
Clocks | System clock oscillator |
Subclock oscillator (76.8 kHz, 160 kHz)
| Interrup ts | External sources | 12 |
Internal sources | 23 |
Power-down state | 8 modes: Sleep (high-speed) mode, sleep (medium-speed) mode, standby mode, watch mode, subsleep mode, subactive mode, active (medium-speed) mode, module standby mode |
Packages | 2 types of 100-pin plastic TQFP: · 14 mm x 14 mm, 0.5 mm pin-pitch · 12 mm x 12 mm, 0.4 mm pin-pitch |
|