Tag Archives: mikroelektronika


Mastering the SiLabs C8051 Microcontroller

In a world where upgrades and advancements are constant, it is easy to overlook older technology in favour of newer, more advanced options. However, the case of 8051 microcontrollers defies this trend. Despite being considered relics of the past, there is still a significant demand for these microcontrollers. Manufacturers have revitalized the proven 8051 architecture by incorporating modern features such as ADCs and communication modules, transforming them into powerful, reliable and versatile devices.

Silicon Laboratories (SiLabs) is an American semiconductor-manufacturing company, similar to Microchip and STMicroelectronics. They are renowned for producing a wide range of semiconductor components, including both 8 and 32-bit microcontrollers. Notably, SiLabs is highly regarded for its RF chips and USB-Serial converters such as CP2102.

In terms of their 8-bit MCU product line-up, SiLabs offers microcontrollers based on the well-established 8051 architecture. However, their MCUs go beyond being simple, traditional 8051 devices. Like other manufacturers like Nuvoton and STC, SiLabs enhances their MCUs with additional modern hardware components such as DACs and communication peripherals.

SiLabs C8051 microcontrollers are recognized for their good performance, reliability, and scalability. They cater to the evolving needs of the embedded systems industry, whether it’s in the realm of consumer electronics, industrial automation, or smart home applications. These microcontrollers serve as a solid foundation for various projects, providing developers with a dependable and flexible platform.

The World of TI’s Tiva C MCUs

Most of us who work with electronics know the name of Texas Instruments (TI) as a manufacturer of several important digital and analogue ICs as well as fancy sophisticated scientific calculators. However many people don’t know that TI is also a manufacturer of some of industry’s best microcontrollers. TI’s portfolio of micros is pretty large. ARM micros are getting popular day-by-day and on that family of micros TI has some of the best devices one can imagine. One such family from TI is the Tiva C series. Enter the TM4C123x Tiva C micros – one of the best possible combination of high-end hardware ever integrated with an ARM Cortex M4.

launchpad-tivac-01

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XMega Analog Comparator

Previously we dealt with the XMega Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) block. We know that we can use the ADC to measure voltages and take decisions based on voltage values/levels but sometimes it is enough to detect voltage levels and not to measure the exact voltage values. In such occasions where we just need to check voltage levels relative to a reference or threshold value, we need an Analog Comparator (AC). An analog comparator can be used to compare two voltage levels and based on that it can be used to generate a logic output (0 or 1) to indicate which of the two levels is higher or lower than the other. That’s all and there isn’t much about analog comparators. The XMega family of micros come loaded with high performance dual analog comparator modules. However so far we saw that between the traditional 8-bit micros and the XMega micros, the major difference apart from programming is the overall nifty enhancements in all common hardware blocks. When it comes to the analog comparators of the XMega micros, the same is true. In this issue we will explore the XMega analog comparator block.

Block Diagram

 

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FlowPaw: A new rapid prototyping tool for electronics and robotics

With so many other development platforms already out there in market, DSP Robotics, in collaboration with MikroElektronika, is going to introduce a new tool, FlowPaw, for rapid prototyping with electronics and robotics. FlowPaw is an expandable development board that carries a STM32F415RG MCU and four mikroBUS™ sockets, which provides a simple Plug-and-Play solution for connecting mikroElektronika’s several dozens of accessory boards called Click Boards. The Click boards are available for a wide range of applications including GPS, WiFi, MP3 decoding, Bluetooth, CAN, IrDA, GSM, and Ethernet. The FlowPaw is programmed directly through a PC USB port using FlowStone, a drag-and-drop programming tool. For those who are interested in getting a first-hand experience with FlowPaw, DSP Robitics is currently running a crowdfunding campaign over Kickstarter.

FlowPaw main board

FlowPaw main board

 

Mikroelektronika announces to develop compilers for FTDI’s 32-bit MCUs

MikroElektronika has announced a close cooperation with FTDI Chip to develop a series of compilers and hardware development boards for FTDI’s FT90X series of microcontrollers.

1st October 2014 – Belgrade-headquartered development tool chain supplier MikroElektronika has signed a formal agreement with FTDI Chip to create mikroC, mikroBasic and mikroPascal compilers for the FT90X 32-bit microcontroller offering. The FT90X utilises a proprietary 32-bit RISC architecture – allowing it to set performance benchmarks beyond 2.93DMIPS/MHz, with true zero wait-states operation up to 100MHz frequencies, as well as capacious memory and an array of advanced connectivity resources.

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MikroElektronika develops compilers for FTDI new MCUs

MikroElektronika develops compilers for FTDI new MCUs

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