EFM32
Encyclopedia
The EFM32 is a family of 32-bit
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....

 RISC Flash
Flash memory
Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data...

 microcontroller
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM...

s designed by Energy Micro AS based on ARM Cortex-M0 or M3 processor core
ARM Cortex-M3
The ARM Cortex-M3 is an ARM processor core licensed by ARM Holdings. The core is intended for microcontroller applications.-Features:Key features of the Cortex-M3 core are:* ARMv7-M architecture* Support for Thumb and Thumb-2 instruction encodings...

. EFM32 is a mixed-signal microcontroller focusing on supporting ultra low power battery operated solutions. To be able to run from small cell batteries, EFM32 MCUs incorporates low power peripheral technology, fast response time, low latency, and autonomous operation (i.e. the CPU does not run while the peripherals communicate). The EFM32 microcontrollers are offered in various configurations .

EFM32 Microcontrollers

EFM is an acronym for Energy Friendly Microcontrollers. 32 relates to the 32-bit processor (ARM Cortex-M3).

EFM32 Gecko Microcontrollers

The first 22 EFM32 Gecko microcontrollers are available now. The Gecko microcontrollers contain the G-prefix followed by the device name and Flash memory size, e.g. EFM32_G_890F128.

EFM32 Tiny Gecko Microcontrollers

The first 13 EFM32 microcontrollers were announced in March 2010. The Tiny Gecko microcontrollers contain the TG-prefix followed by the device name and Flash memory size, e.g. EFM32_TG_840F32.

EFM32 Giant Gecko Microcontrollers

The 48 large memory EFM32 Giant Gecko microcontrollers were announced in July 2010. These devices include USB and up to 1024 KB Flash Memory. The Giant Gecko microcontrollers contain the GG-prefix followed by the device name and Flash memory size, e.g.EFM32_GG_xxxFxxx.

Gecko Microcontrollers?

EFM32 microcontrollers have a logo of a Gecko on them, inspired by David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...

 and the BBC camera crew that made a series on these amphibians;


David Attenborough tells the epic story of the cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles, the most successful creatures ever to walk on land.

Their energy consumption is only 10% of a mammal of similar size.

Reptiles and amphibians are sometimes thought of as slow, dim-witted and primitive. In fact they can be lethally fast, spectacularly beautiful, surprisingly affectionate and extremely sophisticated. - Sir David Attenboroguh
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...


The ARM Cortex-M3 processor

The central processing unit in EFM32 is the Cortex-M3
ARM Cortex-M3
The ARM Cortex-M3 is an ARM processor core licensed by ARM Holdings. The core is intended for microcontroller applications.-Features:Key features of the Cortex-M3 core are:* ARMv7-M architecture* Support for Thumb and Thumb-2 instruction encodings...

 from ARM. This processor is one in a series of processors from ARM which was built for low power operation. Energy Micro announced its first large EFM32 customer in September 2008.

A Low-Power, ARM-based Microcontroller from Oslo with a Winning Presentation

Steve Leibson presents EFM32 technology on his blog here

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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