By Microchip Technology 67
The SAMD5 and SAME5 microcontrollers from Microchip combine the performance of an ARM Cortex-M4 processor with a floating-point unit (FPU). This combination offloads the central processing unit (CPU), increasing system efficiency and enabling process-intensive applications on a low-power platform. These microcontrollers provide an excellent migration path for developers wanting a cost-effective solution with powerful performance, comprehensive interface options, and built-in security. Running at up to 120 MHz, the D5x and E5x MCUs feature up to 1 MB of dual-panel Flash with error correction code (ECC), easily enabling live updates with no interruption to the running system. Additionally, these families are available with up to 256 KB of SRAM with ECC, vital to mission-critical applications such as medical devices or server systems.
These new MCUs have multiple interfaces providing design flexibility for even the most demanding connectivity needs. Both families include a quad serial peripheral interface with an execute in place (XIP) feature. This allows the system to use high-performance serial Flash memories for external memory needs. The SAM D5/E5 devices also feature a secure digital host controller (SDHC) for data logging, a peripheral touch controller (PTC) for capacitive touch capabilities and best-in-class active power performance (65 µA/MHz) for applications requiring power efficiency. Both the SAM D5x and E5x families contain comprehensive cryptographic hardware and software support, enabling developers to incorporate security measures at a design's inception. Additionally, the SAM E5 family includes two CAN-FD ports and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet media access controller (MAC) with IEEE 1588 support, making it well suited for industrial automation, connected home, and other Internet of Things (IoT) applications.