Freescale – Highly-scalable mixed-signal ARM Cortex-M4 microcontrollers (Kinetis)

Embarking on a new era of microcontroller (MCU) innovation, Freescale Semiconductor has unveiled the Kinetis family of 90 nanometer (nm) 32-bit MCUs based on the new ARM Cortex-M4 processor. Complementing Freescale’s recently announced 90nm ColdFire+ MCU line, Kinetis represents one of the most scalable portfolios of low-power, mixed-signal ARM Cortex-M4 processor-based MCUs in the industry, says the company.

Over the next 12 months, seven new Kinetis MCU families are expected to be introduced with more than 200 pin-, peripheral- and software-compatible devices, each one featuring the latest in low-power innovation and a powerful array of mixed-signal capabilities. Designers will be able to combine this with a wide selection of human-machine interface (HMI), connectivity, and safety and security peripherals as well as selecting from multiple performance and memory options.

“By offering ARM microcontrollers in addition to our existing ColdFire solutions and MCUs built on Power Architecture® technology, Freescale is focused on delivering the ideal hardware and software solution available in the marketplace to our customers – regardless of core architecture preference,” said Reza Kazerounian, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller Solutions Group. “We are building on our strong existing relationship with ARM by being the first to market with a broad portfolio of MCUs based on ARM’s new Cortex-M4 core.”

Warren East, CEO of ARM, said: “The Kinetis family of MCUs represents an outstanding extension to the solid technology foundation we have built with Freescale over many years. This announcement is a further demonstration of the growing support for the low power and high performance capabilities of the ARM