Toshiba Has First Microcontroller with SD Memory Card Controller

23 July, 2001


16-bit CISC MCU also integrates USB controller

Tokyo--Toshiba Corporation today announced the world's first microcontroller dedicated to supporting the SD memory card standard and the simplified design of high-capacity digital audio players.

The new 16-bit Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) incorporates an SD memory card controller that supports interfacing between an application platform and an SD memory card. It also integrates a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller, enabling direct downloads to SD memory cards from PCs equipped with a USB port. Integrated with either of Toshiba's TC94A02F, digital signal processor, the new LSI enables configuration of a total solution for SD digital audio player design.

The SD memory card is fast establishing itself as the memory card of choice in applications that require high levels of data security. Chief among these are SD digital audio players offering copyright protection in line with the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). Other applications include reader-writers that download data from PCs to SD memory cards.

Samples of the new LSI will be available from the fourth quarter of 2001, at a sample price of US$20. Mass production will start in the first quarter of 2002.

Development Background

Advances in compression technology for digital audio are fueling demand for digital audio players combining advanced copyright protection with a high storage capacity. The NAND-flash-memory-based SD memory card offers the optimum solution, and demand for products supporting SD is expected to take off dramatically as content suppliers advance plans for music distribution over the Internet. The new microcontroller meets market demands for a price competitive, low power device that integrates both SD and USB controllers.

Key Specifications

Part Number TMP91CM26XB
Package Fine Ball Grid Array (FBGA)-144-pin
Core TLCS-900/ L1
Operating Voltage 3.0 - 3.6V
Minimum Execution Time 111 nanosecond (ns) (USB, 12Mbit/ second)
ROM 32kbyte
RAM 16kbyte


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