Zilog intros enhanced, low-voltage serial communications controller

SAN JOSE, USA: Zilog Inc., a supplier of application specific, embedded system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for industrial and consumer markets, has announced a new enhanced low-voltage serial communications controller (SCC) for a variety of computing applications requiring increased performance and lower power consumption.

The Zilog Z8523L Enhanced SCC (ESCC) builds on Zilog's popular and original discrete SCC, providing a low-power solution that reduces the voltage from 5 to 3.3 volts. The ESCC also features performance improvements that allow applications including computer peripherals, networking equipment and routers to experience faster data rates and increased processor bandwidth.

"Zilog has made significant improvements with our new ESCC that helps our customers bring their high-speed data applications to market quicker, reducing their total cost and extending the life of their applications," said Mike Orr, Zilog vice president and general manager, Microcontroller Business Unit.

Before developing the 3.3 volt ESCC, Zilog customers used a regulator to achieve lower voltage with the original 5 volt Zilog SCC. The Zilog 3.3 volt ESCC has deeper FIFOs and other features that significantly reduce the software overhead for each channel. This allows for more channels per system, faster data rates with more CPU bandwidth and overall lower CPU costs.

The ESCC can support multiple channel and multiple protocols that easily interface to 8/16 bit addressable non-multiplexed address/data buses. The ESCC can be configured to satisfy a wide variety of serial communications applications.

On-chip features include baud rate generators, digital PLLs and crystal oscillators to reduce external logic. Additional features may include optimized FIFOs to support high speed SDLC transfers using DMA controllers.

The ESCC handles asynchronous formats, synchronous byte-oriented protocols and synchronous bit-oriented protocols. The ESCC can generate and check CRC codes in any synchronous mode and can be programmed to check data integrity in various modes.

The ESCC also has facilities for modem controls in both channels. In applications where these controls are not needed, the modem controls can be used for general-purpose I/O.

Zilog ESCC's are designed for use in multiple applications for serial communication needs. One of the key features offered by the ESCC is Extended Read Enable. Write Register values from the WR3, WR4, WR5, WR7, and WR10 can be examined in the ESCC. This feature improves system testability. It is also crucial for SCC/ESCC differentiation and allows generic software structures for all SCC/ESCC devices.