Holtek New Addition to LCD Device Range --- HT49R10A-1

06/12/2007

The release of the new HT49R10A-1 device adds another new addition to Holtek’s range of General Purpose LCD type microcontrollers. The device specification includes 1Kx14 of OTP Program Memory, 64x8 of Data Memory, 10 I/O pins, an 8-bit timer, 3-level LVR and LVD detector circuits, a 2-level stack as well as many other functions. The device has increased noise rejection, can drive up to 56 pixels and is supplied in a 44-pin QFP package type. By offering a device that is simpler in nature to its sister device from the same device range, namely the HT49R30A-1, designers are provided with an additional device solution of reduced costs but which still possesses excellent features.

The HT49R10A-1 uses a Holtek 8-bit microcontroller as its core, and contains three kinds of oscillator circuits to generate the system clock. These are a low power 32768Hz RTC oscillator, an external RC oscillator and an external crystal oscillator. By prior selection of the RTC oscillator configuration option, the device can keep its timing functions operational even after entering the power down mode. By selecting the RC or Crystal oscillator options, a system working frequency of between 400K and 8MHz can be selected using the appropriate external components to meet the demands of high speed program execution.

An additional special feature is the 3-level LVR/LVD function. This allows, via configuration options, the selection of an LVR voltage of 2.1V, 3.15V or 4.2V and an LVD voltage selection of 2.2V, 3.3V or 4.4V. As for the LCD driver function, configuration options allow for proper matching between the chosen LCD and the LCD driver in the device. As the LCD driver function uses a RAM mapping method of operation, this allows for easy matching and programming of the application LCD panel. An additional feature allows the LCD function to continue operating even when the device is in the power down mode.

With this combination of special features, the HT49R10A-1 is especially suited for a range of LCD Panel applications such as scales, electric, water and gas metering applications, timers, calculators, remote control equipment as well as a range of household appliance applications. As is normal for all of Holtek’s MCU devices, the device is fully supported by a comprehensive set of hardware and software tools in the form of the HT-IDE3000 development system. Features such as real time emulation, memory/register modification, hardware execution breakpoints, trace analysis as well as an LCD simulator etc, are all standard features of the system which provide designers with all the tools they need for rapid and efficient product application development and debug. The projected release date for the Mask version of this OTP device, the HT49C10-1 is during the 4Q of 2007.