- It has been years since we did a microcontroller project and lots has changed. So this is a very cold re-boot

- Now we have a project that requires lots of general purpose processing.

- For competitivve reasons we really need a processor which is manufactured by more than one company.

- 8051 type is one possibility (maybe) but would like to hear your suggestions.

- While this is not a gaming device it will have many of those qualities... works on a small battery, has color, touch sensitive, LCD screen, is hand held, etc.

Again, it has been years since we did a microprocessor project here... so any updating will be helpful.

Also trying to get updated on touch sensitive color LCD displays and associated manufacturers for such devices.

Thanks for any help.

 

Use Atmel or PIC microcontrollers, both have power series of uCs (check the 32 bit series if you want the most powerful).

Visit their sites here:

www.atmel.com

www.microchip.com

 

Mike,
1 - Why wouldn't you suggest an 8051 type chip?
2 - Are the atmel & microchip processors 2nd sourced?
thanks for the help.

 

Well, Google will make 11,400,000 suggestions about 8051's. With no parameters, it's hard to know just what to suggest. It's pretty good for LCD info, too.

Possibly you could more cogently define "general purpose processing". If you can say what is is that you wish to do, you may be able to find a microprocessor to do that.

Hint: the input and display requirement really need more detail. Your device may very well be beyond the ability of a uC.

 

As beenthere says, you need to be very specific about what you intend. Many microcontrollers simply do not have the power to do any intense processing.

Check out freescale, NXP, Renesas. Processors based on the ARM9 are modern and cutting-edge.

Steve

 

ARM7 or the newer ARM9 is well second sourced. More competitivve in that respect is hard to find.