Epson Shipping Samples of a New 32-Bit Microcontroller with an ARM® Cortex®-M0+ Processor

Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, “Epson”) has developed and begun shipping samples of the S1C31D01, the latest addition to the company’s S1C31 series of energy-efficient 32-bit microcontrollers that have an ARM^® Cortex^®-M0+ processor^*3 and built-in Flash memory. Epson believes that the S1C31D01 is the world’s first microcontroller to have a built-in memory LCD controller^*4

Epson plans to produce 200,000 units per month when volume production beings in April 2017.

Epson’s low-power microcontrollers, which have built-in Flash memory, are designed to be embedded in mobile devices. In October 2015 Epson began shipping samples of the S1C31W74, the company’s first product in the S1C31 series of microcontrollers with an ARM^® Cortex^®-M0+ processor. The S1C31D01 is the second product in the series. The biggest features of the S1C31D01 are that the memory LCD controller and the power supply IC for it are integrated on this single-chip solution.

Compared to other types of LCD panels, memory LCDs use very little power, so they are increasingly being used in battery-driven wearable products such as smart watches that do not require charging. On the other hand, memory LCDs had issues that increased the burden on developers. In addition to controllers, some memory LCDs needed multiple voltage power supplies while others had a parallel data interface for image transfers. So to use them, developers had to obtain external components and develop software.

To address these issues, Epson developed for the S1C31D01 a new memory LCD controller, a power supply IC for the memory LCD that can output two voltages of the developer’s choice, and a 6-bit parallel interface. Because these eliminate the need for external components and interface software development, developers are able to save time and effort while also reducing the size of their products.

The S1C31D01 also integrates peripheral circuits, including but not limited to Flash memory, a real-time clock (RTC), a USB controller, and an A/D converter. Current consumption in RTC mode is 0.9 µA^*5. The combination of S1C31D01 and memory LCD promises to extend the battery life of wearable products.

*1 First among general-purpose microcontrollers (based pm Epson research as of August 2016)
*2 Wafer-level chip-scale packages have a footprint that is the same size as the footprint of the chip.
*3 A processor designed by U.K-based ARM Limited, the ARM^® Cortex^®-M0+ is ARM’s most energy-efficient processor and by far the most widely used processor in the market.
*4 A liquid crystal display that has a memory function. On ordinary LCDs even still images have to be refreshed. On memory LCDs, however, once an image is drawn on the display, it can be held there without being refreshed. This helps limit power consumption and saves battery life.
*5 Typical, SLEEP mode, RTCA=ON, 25 degrees Celsius

ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the EU and other countries. All rights reserved.

Notes
1. See the attachment for the specifications. (130KB)
2. Please see the link below for further details about these products.
https://global.epson.com/products/semicon/products/mcu/armcore_index.html