Need advice on an alternative mcu - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: asgard20032
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 11:27:25 am
content: I am now part of a team, developing a product. One of our mcu (PIC16F18855) is suppose to monitor the battery status , and offer some other information to the main mcu. (main cpu is one board, and there is the power board). I was wondering if there is any micro that may be cheaper and more low power for the same role. I was thinking of an msp430g2553, but it happen to cost 1$ more.

author: Xenoamor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:04:01 pm
content: What do you need. What frequency, flash/RAM size, SPI/I2C/UARTS, ADCs, GPIO pin count, voltage tolerance

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:07:08 pm
content: Check Silicon Labs sleepy bee, they cost significantly less than microchip MCUs.http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/EFM8SB1_DataSheet.pdfThat is not classic 8051 core, only same instruction set, they are faster than 8 bit pic at the same clock speed.

author: autobot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:22:21 pm
content: Not only sleepy bee, i think the busy bee family is cheaper.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:44:23 pm
content: They all are cheaper, and have more goodies in them. Just Sleepy bee is what OP asked for (low power).

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 03:16:49 pm
content: Low power consumption is more of a software issue than a hardware issue.For your applications, your MCU should be sleeping most of the time, and only waking periodically to make measurements. So try to pick one that has low sleep current and wakes up quickly.I would look into the cm0 or cm0+ chips. Stm32L, efm, and even the lowly stm8L.

author: asgard20032
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 05:43:38 pm
content: Frequency : as low as possible. Sleeping most of the time. Doing communication as slave i2c. Using some adc.Just need as cheap/low power as possible. Nothing fancy.Also, the price of the programmer/debugger is important. We don't want to spend 500$ on a programmer. 75$ Max.

author: asgard20032
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 05:54:48 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on August 15, 2016, 12:07:08 pmBut is it more low power than a pic16f18855?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 07:36:12 pm
content: Compare the datasheets, there was a link. IMO it seem to have lower consumption while doing the same task. Note that µA/MHz current consumption is not directly comparable between them because EFM8 will need many times less clock cycles for doing the same amount of computation.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 08:29:55 pm
content: 0,18 USD is fine for you ?STM8S003F3P6Core16 MHz advanced STM8 core with Harvard architecture and 3-stage pipelineExtended instruction setMemoriesProgram memory: 8 Kbyte Flash memory; data retention 20 years at 55 °C after 100 cyclesRAM: 1 KbyteData memory: 128 bytes true data EEPROM; endurance up to 100 k write/erase cyclesClock, reset and supply management2.95 V to 5.5 V operating voltageFlexible clock control, 4 master clock sourcesLow-power crystal resonator oscillatorExternal clock inputInternal, user-trimmable 16 MHz RCInternal low-power 128 kHz RCClock security system with clock monitorPower managementLow-power modes (wait, active-halt, halt)Switch-off peripheral clocks individuallyPermanently active, low-consumption power-on and power-down resetInterrupt managementNested interrupt controller with 32 interruptsUp to 27 external interrupts on 6 vectorsTimersAdvanced control timer: 16-bit, 4 CAPCOM channels, 3 complementary outputs, dead-time insertion and flexible synchronization16-bit general purpose timers, with 3 CAPCOM channels (IC, OC or PWM)8-bit basic timer with 8-bit prescalerAuto wakeup timerWindow and independent watchdog timersCommunications interfacesUART with clock output for synchronous operation, SmartCard, IrDA, LIN master modeSPI interface up to 8 Mbit/sI2 C interface up to 400 Kbit/sAnalog to digital converter (ADC)10-bit ADC, ± 1 LSB ADC with up to 5 multiplexed channels, scan mode and analog watchdogI/OsUp to 28 I/Os on a 32-pin package including 21 high-sink outputsHighly robust I/O design, immune against current injectionhttps://world.taobao.com/item/43177451657.htm?fromSite=main&ali_refid=a3_430620_1006:1110346096:N:STM8S003F3P6:37d2d1427d7dc66d9731122a0b031de2&ali_trackid=1_37d2d1427d7dc66d9731122a0b031de2&spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.mvajsm

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 01:59:53 am
content: Cypress PSOC. Low end PSOC 4 (M0), PSOC 5LP (M3), routable,onchip Vref, DelSig to 20 bits or SAR to 12 bits, tons of "compo-nents" (their word for HW features) all with lots of code APIs to control.Linear, OpAmps, Comparators, IDE free, many boards $ 10, someat $ 25.Parts with DMA, Digital Filter, LCD, HW that can be created by GUI drag and dropor use Verilog (it has FPGA like HW fabric on top of the standard HW blocks).http://www.cypress.com/documentation/product-selector-guide-psg/product-selector-guide-psg-psoc-programmable-system-chipAttached, depending on part, its catalog of component HW.Roadmaphttp://www.cypress.com/file/151476/downloadFocus on PSOC 4, 5LP families.Regards, Dana.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 02:05:23 am
content: Quote from: asgard20032 on August 15, 2016, 05:43:38 pmOne of the 8051s or even a 4-bit mask ROM MCU might suit your needs.

author: krho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 05:43:48 pm
content: I know that you said MCU, but just wondering does none of the chips in Texas instruments fuel gauge or battery management range suit your needs?

author: gauravmp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 09:48:04 pm
content: I know that STM32L4 are ultra low power chips that are very frequently used. Although I've never used them, I know some people have used them to monitor tire pressure in cars.