AVR Xmega

[Isaac Marino Bavaresco]

These days I was studying the AVR Xmega MCUs for prospective use in a
new product. When I learned their capabilities I freaked out!

The facts I found more important:
a) 8-bit MCU approaching 32MIPS @ 32MHz.
b) Internal RAM from 2KB up to 32KB and flash from 16KB up to 384KB.
c) Packages of 44 (34 I/Os), 64 (50 I/Os) and 100 pins (78 I/Os) available.
d) The 100 pins versions have external memory interface, supporting up
to 16MB of SRAM and 128MB of SDRAM!!!
e) 4 DMA channels capable of transferring between any combination of
RAM/port/peripheral and the most amazing: external DMA requests available!
f) Any I/O pin may generate interrupts.
g) Operation from 1.6V up to 3.6V.
h) 5, 7 or 8 USARTS; 5, 7 or 8 16-bit TIMERS; 16, 22 or 24 PWMs; 2, 3 or
4 SPI; 2 or 4 TWI; 12 or 16 12-bit A/D inputs; 2 or 4 12-bit D/A outputs.
i) Hardware crypto-engine with DES and AES support.
j) As all AVRs, every interrupt has its own vector.

Prices from $4.30 up to $9.68 per unit and from $2.40 up to $5.40 per
unit in lots of 100.

If only they had USB or Ethernet as options they would be perfect!

For a previous project I needed a MCU with external DMA request and the
only I found was a Samsung ARM9 (very hard to obtain, including
documentation). I ended up with an Atmel ARM9 without external DMA
request but with an image sensor interface.

Some time ago someone asked for a MCU with image capture capabilities.
One of these Xmega with external RAM and this external DMA request may
be able to capture from a CCD without any support chip. It is a pity
they are only 8 bits.

Another great thing is that development tools are free: WinAVR (gcc) and
for programming any JTAG device supported by AVRDUDE will work. The down
is that debuggers are expensive (around $600).

Isaac

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