Application of the latest 65nm flash embedded logic process for motor control and consumer devices

Toshiba Corporation’s semiconductor and storage products company announced the launch of the ARM Cortex-M3-based 'M3H group' microcontrollers.

This is the first product group of the new TXZ family (TXZ™ Family) manufactured using an embedded flash memory process based on a 65nm logic process. Shipments of 30 product samples from the M3H group are scheduled to begin in May 2016, and mass production of the first products is expected to start in January 2017. The M3H group products are the first microcontrollers introduced by Toshiba using a 65nm flash-embedded-logic mixed process.

The M3H group is based on the ARM Cortex-M core, which is considered the de facto standard for embedded 32-bit microprocessors, and integrates high-performance analog circuitry and a wide range of basic functions required to support comprehensive motor control, consumer, and industrial device applications. The lineup includes low-pin-count packages (32 to 100 pins) and small flash memory sizes (32KB to 128KB).



Integrated features include a high-precision 12-bit AD converter and an 8-bit DA converter with a switching speed of 1.5μs, Toshiba’s PMD motor control circuit (programmable motor control circuit) suitable for inverter motor control such as AC motor and BLCD motor control, and various general-purpose peripheral circuits such as UART, I2C, TSPI, and timers. By integrating high-precision analog circuits and general-purpose peripheral circuits in this way, the M3H group simultaneously achieves low-power capabilities and high functionality.

Toshiba plans to provide technical documentation, software describing specific embedded use cases, evaluation boards, and drive software for each control interface during sample shipment. In addition, through collaboration with partners in the global ARM ecosystem, it can implement various development environments to meet diverse demands.

Toshiba plans to continue expanding its TXZ family lineup to meet the demand of the motor control and global sensor markets, and plans to launch over 500 products by 2020.