Date: 20/10/2010

32-bit MCU from Fujitsu with integrated graphics controller for rich displays apps

Fujitsu Semiconductor America, Inc. has released the MB91590 "Sapphire" series, a complete System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution for color display, video input and meter control systems for automotive dashboard and human machine interface (HMI) applications.

Fujitsu claims the MB91590 "Sapphire" series MCU integrates a powerful FR81S CPU core offering the highest CPU performance level in the industry, along with a graphics display controller (GDC) with sprite functionality, rendering engine, and external video-capture capabilities. The MB91590 "Sapphire" series also features frame buffer memory for graphics (VRAM) and support for a broad range of communication functions (including CAN and LIN). The GDC is capable of supporting two LCD displays.

"The MB91590 'Sapphire' series offers a single-chip solution for applications that require robust color display and video-input capabilities," said Akio Nezu, senior manager of marketing, Fujitsu Semiconductor America. "The SoC is particularly well-suited for use in automotive instrument clusters and center consoles that use color displays to generate flexible and intuitive driver interfaces."

The MB91590 series features a FR81S CPU core with a maximum internal operating frequency of 128MHz. The device includes a built-in single-precision floating point unit for high-speed operations. An integrated memory protection unit provides selective access to protected memory areas.

The integrated GDC supports dual displays at a maximum 800×480 resolution, and features a sprite and rendering engine for producing improved effects for dashboard applications. It supports 512 sprites with functions such as automatic blinking, movement, image switching and anti-aliased font display. The rendering engine can operate in combination with the video capture and NTSC-decoder functions to enable image manipulation, including zooming and 90-degree rotation. Overlaid graphics such as needles or parking guidelines can also be rendered in conjunction with captured video. Layered graphical images can be sent to either LCD flexibly.

Multiple built-in regulators and a flexible standby mode enable the MB91590 to operate with low power consumption.

The MB91590 "Sapphire" is suggested for applications that require dynamic color display and video input capabilities, such as automotive instrument clusters, center consoles using color displays, vehicle camera systems, and industrial controllers with color displays.

Package: Plastic LQFP 208-pin or QFP 208-pin packages

Price: Starting at each US$18.00

Availability: Sampling now, production quantities expected by the end of October 2010