Atmel AVR XMEGA Series with USB and High-precision Analog

Atmel announced additional unique features to the already-successful 8/16-bit AVR XMEGA microcontroller (MCU) family with the industry's lowest power consumption of 100nA with 5µS wake-up time. The new Atmel AVR® XMEGA® family includes full-speed USB, the fastest and highest-precision analog systems, a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller and the innovative event system that maximize real-time performance and throughput while reducing CPU load. This new family lowers overall system cost through higher integration, capacitive touch support, and ultra-low power consumption. The AVR XMEGA microcontrollers are designed for applications in the industrial, consumer, metering and medical segments.

The new AVR XMEGA MCUs integrate full-speed USB connectivity with unique functions that reduce overhead and provide higher data rates. Using the high-precision internal oscillator in the AVR XMEGA, designers can lower the system cost by eliminating the crystal oscillator traditionally required for full-speed USB. Atmel provides free software for all common USB device classes in the AVR Software Framework, which is a complete software package that includes drivers and communication stacks for AVR microcontrollers.

The AVR XMEGA family has unique high-precision analog functions. The family includes two 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with programmable gain stages that remove the need for external amplifiers. The ADCs operate down to 1.6V operating voltage, and have a combined sample rate up to 4MSPS. The two 12-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) also support systems that need fast and high-precision analog output. The DACs can drive high loads to reduce external driver component costs, while built-in current outputs enable embedded applications to remove external resistors or other constant current sources.

Highlights of the new Atmel AVR XMEGA Family include

• High-precision analog – 12-bit ADCs with gain stage and combined throughput of 4 MSPS. Fast 12-bit DAC with high drive strength, as well as other functions that reduce the need for external components.

• Real-time performance — The event system facilitates inter-peripheral signaling with 100% predictable response time. To offload the CPU, all peripherals can use DMA for data transfer.

• Atmel picoPower® technology — True 1.6 volt operation, and 500 nA RTC operation with full SRAM retention for fastest possible wake-up time.

• High Integration — XMEGA devices integrate AES and DES crypto modules, up to 32 PWM outputs, 8 UART, 4 TWI (I2C) and 4 SPI channels, a CRC generator module, and more.

• AVR Software Library – A complete library of device drivers and communication stacks save time and development effort so you can focus on more important design tasks.

• Atmel QTouch® Sensing – QTouch Library support enables you to easily realize robust capacitive touch sensing interfaces for button, sliders and wheels.

• USB Connectivity – Delivers full-speed operation without the need for external crystals, 31 endpoints, and a special multi-packet function that maximizes data transfer rates while minimizing CPU load.