Issue
151 February 2003
Newcomer
Nitron
Motorola's
Leading 8/16-Pin MCUs
DOCUMENTATION
The
demonstration kit comes with two CDs. The first
CD, developed by Metrowerks, installs the CodeWarrier
IDE software and contains all of the documentation
you’ll need. The guided tour (HC908QT4_Tutorial)
will help you get your first project off the ground.
Processor Expert has an animated tutorial that will
help you understand its process. You’ll also find
a cool bean trailer on the CD. (Enough said.)
The
newest and most useful (IMHO) part of the IDE is
the real-time simulator, which allows you to simulate
hardware connected to the device being simulated.
You’re free to choose from a number of pre-made
components like a keyboard, potentiometer, LED,
LCD, or oscilloscope. You can also make your own.
Note that all of these operate in real time to provide
input to or get output from the simulator.
The
second CD contains documentation for the demo kit
hardware and other hardware tools that support Motorola
processors. Included are datasheets and manuals
that cover all aspects of the devices. There are
application notes specific to the Nitron family
in addition to notes on the other HC08 applications.
The
Motorola CD also contains product overviews and selector
guides that will help you choose the right part for
your application (see Table 4).
If you want to learn more about the Nitron family of
parts, this CD has valuable information about the monitor
ROM.
After
installing the CodeWarrier IDE and following the
tutorial, I unsoldered the ’908QT4 from my kit’s
PCB and soldered a DIP socket in its place. It’s
not that I want to get rid of the part, but just
the opposite: I want another device to be delivered.
I want to use this device in a new project, now!
BRACE
YOURSELF
Watch
out, everyone, here comes the 8-bit micro leader expanding
its reach into the low-end market. The Nitron family
will be tough to compete against. With flash memory
and an HC08 architecture, this beast is a powerhouse
shoehorned into 8- and 16-pin shoes. With free tools
and sub-$1 quantity prices, Motorola has rearmed itself
for an attack.
