Infineon Announces Linux Capable 32-bit Microcontroller; Expands TriCore Processor Family with Chip for Industrial and Communications Applications

The TC1130 is designed for use in programmable logic control (PLC) systems, high-performance motor drive systems, industrial communications devices, such as switches, hubs and routers, and consumer applications, such as setop boxes. Based on the award-winning TriCore™ Unified Processor architecture, the TC1130 extends Infineon’s well-accepted 32-bit MCU family by offering an on-chip Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Floating Point Unit (FPU), well-targeted on-chip peripherals, and a clock rate up to 150 MHz. At 200 MIPS (millions of instructions per second) the average performance of the TC1130 exceeds other currently available industrial MCUs by a factor of three.

“As a partner with leading providers of industrial and consumer electronic systems, Infineon’s goal is to offer microcontroller solutions with tailor-made performance and competitive cost to meet specific system requirements,” said Frank Grobe, Senior Manager Marketing for Microcontrollers in the Automotive & Industrial business group at Infineon Technologies AG. “With the TC1130, we respond to customer needs for high-performance on-chip interfaces to support industry standard communications protocols, while providing an excellent performance-to-cost ratio, and the tools needed to quickly bring powerful new systems to market.”

With a Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbit per second) controller, four CAN (Controller Area Network) nodes and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) module, the TC1130 accommodates the migration of industrial systems from specialized interface and communications architectures to standards pioneered in the computer industry. This allows a company’s production lines to be easily connected to control systems and networks, as well as true real-time, deterministic operation. The integrated FPU and MMU also support the use of the increasingly popular Linux or RTAI Linux operating systems.

Other features of the TC1130 include 144 Kbytes of on-chip RAM memory, a 64-bit high-performance Local Memory Bus (LMB) that provides fast access between caches and external memories, and Infineon’s Flexible Peripherals Interface bus for enhanced on-chip communications. Like all TriCore-based microcontrollers, the TC1130 combines the realtime capability of a microcontroller, the math performance a DSP and the simple programmability of a RISC architecture. It is also broadly supported with development and programming tools from leading embedded system suppliers.

Availability, Packaging and Pricing

The TC1130, packaged in a 208-pin Plastic Low-profile Ball Grid Array (P-LBGA), is available now. Two versions, at 100 MHz and 150 MHz clock speed are available, and the chip is specified for the ambient temperature range from -40°C to +85°C. In quantities of 10,000 pieces, it is priced at Euro 12.05 per unit. Infineon and its distribution partners also provide Starter Kit and Evaluation Board packages to speed system development and test.

At the Embedded World show 2004 (17.-19. February 2004) in Nuremberg, Germany, Infineon highlights the versatility and quality of its broad microcontroller families with application demos at Booth C570 in Hall 12.

Further information about Infineon’s microcontroller products is available at www.infineon.com/microcontrollers

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors, for applications in the wired communications markets, secure mobile solutions as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2003 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 6.15 billion with about 32,300 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.