TI, Integration of Flash, Analog-to-Digital Converters, Processing Speed and Small
Device Size Key Considerations in the Selection of TI's TMS320F2812 Controller
HOUSTON, By providing high integration and leading control performance within a small device package, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) today announced that BEI Systron Donner Inertial Division (SDID), a division of BEI Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq: BEIQ), has selected TI's TMS320F2812 digital signal controller for its Micro Electrical-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), the MMQ-50. The F2812 is a highly integrated embedded controller that combines TI's leading
digital signal processing (DSP) technology for 150MIPS of control optimized processing power with the flexibility of integrated peripherals and the ease of use of a traditional microcontroller (MCU). This combination allows the
F2812 to handle both the control system processing requirements as well as the control system functions which are typically handled by additional host MCUs.
For more information, see http://www.ti.com/f28controller .
IMU technology is used in a number of commercial aircraft, automotive and military applications to sense the relative position of the vehicle or craft.
MEMS technology allows the miniaturization of the IMU through the use of one piece, micro machined quartz inertial sensors that measure angular rotational
velocity. These sensors produce a signal output proportional to the rate of rotation sensed, which are converted to relative positioning information.
“The F2812 digital signal controller gave us the best combination of price, integration and size as well as the ease of configuration and programming with TI's eXpressDSP(TM) software and development tools,” said Mark Chamberlain, director of marketing and sales, SDID. “The F2812 controller allowed us to leverage our automotive-based MEMS rate sensor technology into high performance aerospace and defense applications and make the MMQ-50 one of the smallest and lowest cost IMUs available on the market
today.”
TI's highly integrated F2812 controllers have the processing power and small package size that enable manufacturers to build smaller designs with increased functionality and features. The MMQ-50 IMU offers enhanced
performance at a low cost and includes six full degrees of freedom sensing capability in a compact size of less than six cubic inches.
With an unmatched level of memory and peripheral integration, the F2812 embedded controller gives designers system-on-a-chip like benefits which greatly reduces board space and overall system cost, and leads to simpler,
more cost-effective designs with higher functionality and features. The F2812 controller integrates 128 Kilowords (Kw) of Flash memory at 110MIPS for simple reprogramming during development and in-field software updates. Optimized
event managers include pulse-width modulation (PWM) generators, programmable general-purpose timers and glueless capture encoder interfaces. The device
also features a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a throughput of 16.7 mega samples per second and dual sample-hold, providing critical support in tight control loops. Five different on-chip standard communication ports
provide simple communication interfaces to hosts, test equipment, displays and other components.
BEI Technologies, Inc. is an established manufacturer of electronic sensors, motors, actuators and motion control products used for factory and office automation, medical equipment, military, aviation and space systems.
In addition, sales to manufacturers of transportation equipment including automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment have become a significant addition
to the Company's business in recent years. The Company's micro machined quartz yaw rate sensors are being used in advanced vehicle stability control systems and a significant increase in the production of those sensors has been in progress since the middle of 1998. BEI also manufactures electronic steering wheel position sensors, seat-memory modules, throttle position and pressure sensors and other devices used in automotive systems.
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements.
In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than
25 countries.
