NXP ships industry's highest performance Cortex-M3 based microcontrollers

EEMBC-certified LPC1700 series now extended with 512KB Flash options

May 05, 2009 -- NXP, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, today confirmed that the LPC1700 series is the industry’s highest performance Cortex-M3 microcontroller, based on results from the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC). The EEMBC results show that the LPC1700 executes application code on average 35% faster than the leading Cortex-M3 competitors when running at the same clock speeds. NXP’s performance advantage is even greater when the LPC1700 runs at higher clock speeds. The LPC1700 has been certified by EEMBC at 72,100, and 120 MHz. This increased speed and efficiency is due to the intelligent architecture of the microcontroller, its use of flexible direct memory access (DMA) and best-in-market Flash. The LPC1700 series is targeted to operate high-bandwidth communications peripherals such as Ethernet, USB On-The-Go/Host/Device and CAN simultaneously with no bottle-necks. It is designed for use in a wide variety of applications, including eMetering, lighting, industrial networking, alarm systems, white goods and motor control.

"These certified EEMBC results highlight the fact that the design of the microcontroller and its memory interfaces is equally as important as the processor core itself," said Markus Levy, president of EEMBC. "Furthermore, NXP’s motivation to have its EEMBC scores certified adds an extra level of assurance that the scores are repeatable and are generated according to the rules established by the consortium".
 
Dedicated to giving you more 32-bit microcontroller options, NXP is introducing two new members to the popular LPC1700 series. The LPC1768 and LPC1758, available in LQFP100 and LQFP80 packages respectively, extend the maximum Flash size of the LPC1700 series to 512KB. The LPC1700 series is now shipping in volume and free samples are available at www.nxp.com/experience_MCUoptions/.

"Our EEMBC results confirm that the LPC1700 series is now the fastest and most efficient Cortex-M3 available in the market," said Geoff Lees, vice president and general manager, microcontroller product line, NXP Semiconductors. "The immediate availability of this series, along with the new 512KB devices ensures that NXP continues to offer our customers the broadest range of 32-bit MCU options."

The NXP LPC1700 microcontroller series offers the following features:

• Highest bandwidth Ethernet
• Featuring USB On-The-Go/Host/Device adding to the industry’s widest choice of USB options
• A Quadrature Encoder Interface and Motor Control Pulse Width Modulator (PWM) for flexible, motor control with power to spare
• Two CAN interfaces
• A true 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and 10-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
• Fast-Mode Plus (1 Mb/s) I²C bus, in addition to 4 UARTs, 3 SPI/SSP buses and an I²S bus
• Real-Time Clock operating at less than 1 uA
• A Memory Protection Unit (MPU) allowing memory regions to be defined as read-only and protect them from corruption
• Revision 2 Cortex-M3 core with enhanced power down capabilities, including Wake-up Interrupt Controller
• Pin compatibility with the NXP LPC2300 ARM7 microcontrollers series
  

The NXP LPC1700 series is supported by the same large variety of tool vendors available today for NXP's ARM-based 32-bit MCUs, such as Keil (an ARM company), IAR Systems, Hitex Development Tools, Embedded Artists, and more. Code Red Technologies offers support for the LPC1700 in their Eclipse-based Red Suite software development platform.

Additional Information

Full details of the EEMBC benchmarking results for the LPC1700 are available for free at www.eembc.org.

About EEMBC

EEMBC, the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium, develops and certifies real-world benchmarks and benchmark scores to help designers select the right embedded processors for their systems. Every processor submitted for EEMBC benchmarking is tested for parameters representing different workloads and capabilities in communications, networking, consumer, office automation, automotive/industrial, embedded Java, and network storage-related applications. With members including leading semiconductor, intellectual property, and compiler companies, EEMBC establishes benchmark standards and provides certified benchmarking results through the EEMBC Technology Center.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP is a leading semiconductor company founded by Philips more than 50 years ago. Headquartered in Europe, the company has about 30,000 employees working in more than 30 countries and posted sales of USD 5.4 billion (including the Mobile & Personal business) in 2008. NXP creates semiconductors, system solutions and software that deliver better sensory experiences in TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, mobile phones, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices. News from NXP is located at www.nxp.com.