Download MSC-Newsletter:
Newsletter 11/2005:
The 8051 - Still Alive!
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The 8051 - Still Alive!
Those who think that there is no news in the 8051 market, only have to take a look at Atmel product releases. High volume devices like the AT80C52 are covered by Atmel‘s product map, as well as low-power, 2X and single cycle cores. With tailored products for specific application segments, Atmel also provides easy access to the 8051 legacy with minimum knowledge and effort.
Single Cycle Cores
Compared to the industrial standard products „single cycle“ cores do have up 12-times better speed performance within an existing design. If this speed improvement is not needed the MCU can be driven with a lower frequency for an even better performance. This is also very useful in applications where power consumption and/or EMI might be a problem.
AT89LP2051
AT89LP4051
2K-Version
4K-Version
Both devices are available in a 20-Pin TSOP/SOIC/PDIP package, and can be driven up to 20MHz.
USB MCUs

For those applications where USB-communication is required, Atmel offers the AT89C513x-series with full-speed USB1.1 & USB2.0 (12-Mbit/s) device support on-chip. The AT89C513x-series supports flash from 16K upto 64K, and makes it very easy to start product development in this area..
AT89C5130A-M
AT89C5131A-M
AT89C5132A-M
16K Flash, USB1.1 & USB2.0, QFN32, VQFP64
32K Flash, USB1.1 & USB2.0, QFN32, VQFP64
64K Flash, USB1.1 & USB2.0, VQFP80
The AT89STK-05 evaluation kit is a low cost and easy entry to design for you to evaluate your requirements. Beyond PCB support, Atmel delivers software support for USB firmware, as well as examples of how to implement a HID keyboard, a USB mass storage device and a USB<->RS232 gateway using CDC (communication device class) drivers with all required source codes. All these example can be downloaded from Atmel‘s homepage by filling out a simple registration form. An integrated ROM bootloader makes it possible to do firmware upgrades via USB. For this Atmel, provide a Windows™ based software solution called FLIP, which supports programming via UART, CAN etc.
MP3 Audio Player
The key feature of this specific controller is the implementation of a MP3 decoder in hardware. With this MP3 hardware decoder and additional firmware for Multimedia card and USB support, it is easy to adapt customer requirements & concentrate on system integration with low cost considerations.
AT89C51SND1C
AT89C51SND2C
MP3 decoder
MP3 decoder + audio DAC
Atmel is already well known for evaluations kits, in addtion to the device reference designs which are also provided. These kits offer a rich set of examples in source code, as well as firmware code and libraries to provide a easy path for customer implementation.
AT89RFD-01 Reference design MP3 Player

This MP3 Player reference design is based on Atmel‘s AT89C51SND1C microcontroller, and provides all necessary software and hardware to build and design a MP3 player. Via USB and and available mass storage device driver (64MB on-board NAND Flash) it is possible to download and play songs. Again the USB interface can be used with the implemented bootloader to do firmware upgrades via USB.
Embedded TCP/IP

For communication via the Internet, Atmel offers 8051 devices with an integrated software TCP/IP Stack. Royality-free services like HTTP, FTP, SMTP etc. are provided and have great advantages compared to other solutions. Again, reference designs and fully equipped evaluation kits cover applications like Voice-over-IP, WebCamera, CAN<->Ethernet and Serial<->Ethernet gateways.
@web LAN51H
@web LAN51H VoIP
@web LAN51H NC
@web SEG32
@web CEG32
Standard LAN Evaluation Board
Voice-over-IP Evaluation Board
NetCAM Evaluation Board
Serial to Ethernet Gateway
CAN to Ethernet Gateway


The above presented devices and toolchains are a very small selection of the overall existing solutions found in the 8051 offering of Atmel‘s portofolio. You also may find specific devices for CAN and smart card reader applications. Altogether they do provide an optimal price / performance advantage well-known from Atmel in the past.