Processor proliferation provides application match

摘要

The surge in new processors, ranging from cores to microcontrollers to devices with unique add-in features, is starting to rival the diversity in analog components, such as op amps. For example, Motorola's latest MPC500 family entry, the PowerPC MPC565 for automotive OEM applications, includes 1 Mbyte of flash EE-PROM, so it can take on complex embedded tasks, such as power-train control. This 56-MHz processor operates from a 2.6V supply for internal functions and supports 5V I/O operation for peripheral compatibility. In addition to the flash memory, it includes 46 kbytes of static RAM, a four-bank memory controller, and a trio of timer-processor units; each timer is a 32-bit, 28-MIPS RISC engine.