Post by thread:Criticise this processor choice

I'm looking for some "devil's advocates" who have used Z8's I have an application where the new Z8E seems the ideal choice. I haven't heard too many comments about Z8 except for one here last October - he criticised them thoroughly - I won' mention his name but I'll send him a copy of this query - may get some useful input. One other user mentioned it without positive or negative comment. Application: All values need accuracies of at least 6 bits - the more the better. Inputs - 1 x 1 KHz PWM - read mark/space. 1 x variable 50 - 3000 Hz square wave - read frequency. 1 x analog voltage (0 - 0.1 ish volts) - read to about 6 bits plus accuracy. Outputs - 1 x 10 KHz PWM. (average resolution about 6 bits) 1 x variable frequency 1 - 500 Hz (6 bits plus ?) Processing - Output PWM is complexish function of all input signals. Target Cost: Nothing! :-) Seriously, it's gotta be cheap. Volume is 50,000 per year or so. Considered 16C71 or new variants. About $US2 - maybe somewhat less. 0.1 volt signal will need to be amplified so one packet of op amps needed (LM324 or similar OK) If a VCO is used this analog signal could become a frequency and remove the need for the A2D. So - a PIC 16C505 could perhaps be used. The single timer would make life hard. The output PWM is challenging - a lower resolution with dithering would allow say 4 bit (or less?) resolution. BUT The Z8E00110 has 3 timers (2 x 8, 1 x 16 bit) 2 x 8 bit will provide a 16 bit (or less) set-and-forget PWM output Use VCO for analog in. Voila AND the volume price (say 10,000 up) looks at this stage to be a bit under $1US. Slightly more than 16C505 but much easier to meet spec. Going up to 16C71 and friends still leaves me with 1 timer and no hardware PWM. Its hard to escape the Z8 in this application. SO Tell me all the bad things that you know or have heard (or that the opposition rep has insinuated :-)) about the Z8. Sure. I'll use PIC elsewhere still and I'd use it here if it works but what would I use instead of the Z8 The Z8 looks like it will be slower than a PIC (better addressing and general instruction set and architecture, poorer MIPs)and less code efficient. Certainly MChips comparisons say so - the new core is faster but not vastly so. Thoughts? regards Russell McMahon ____________________________ Some Z8E background This has a 10 MHz max clock which is divided by 10 to give a 1uS constant instruction time at 10 MHz. It has 2 x 8 bit and 1 x 16 bit timer. The 2 x 8 bit timers can be combined to provide a 16 bit PWM output. It also has an analog comparator. 64 bytes RAM 1KB ROM (OTP) No UART, no EEROM, BUT They have a real albeit simple ICE for $99 ($US99, $NZ99, probably $AUS99 too :-)) Brilliant. Genuine program, assemble, download and run in target circuit ! (!!!!) Astounding. For me the $NZ1.70 in true volume ($2.10ish in tube quantities) is the clincher.

Russel, Last week I asked a question about what processor would be good out of the Z8, AVR, SX, and SST's "FlashFlex 51" family. I received about 4 emails straight to me. They all had used ZILOGs chips for sometime. The thing that caught my attention was that they all basically had the same complaint, ZILOG seems to have this habit of changing their die and not telling people. A few people did say that overall ZILOG is a good chip for selection, price, and are great number crunchers. Hope this helps, if you decide to go that way let me know how it works out. Best regards, Steven Steven Kosmerchock Engineering Technician/Student CELWAVE Phoenix Arizona USA Email: spam_OUTsteve.kosmerchockTakeThisOuTcelwave.com http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/lab/6584

I used Zilog Z86E30 and got it masked thru their Distri in Hong Kong. I placed order for 10k pcs and paid 3000 USD for masking charges over and above the cost of masked parts. However distri got 10k pcs manufactured after my producted clikced in the marker and sold it in the trade market. When I complained this to Zilog's Hong Kong office, they simply said it is beyond their scope. They get order from distri and do not have anything to do with end customer. Now I use Motorola parts even if they art more expensive. No Zilog - Cant trust them Vinay Chaddha On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, Steven Kosmerchock wrote: {Quote hidden}> Russel, > Last week I asked a question about what processor would be good > out of the Z8, AVR, SX, and SST's "FlashFlex 51" family. I received > about 4 emails straight to me. They all had used ZILOGs chips for sometime. > The thing that caught my attention was that they all basically had the > same complaint, ZILOG seems to have this habit of changing their die > and not telling people. A few people did say that overall ZILOG is a > good chip for selection, price, and are great number crunchers. > Hope this helps, if you decide to go that way let me know how it > works out. > > Best regards, > Steven > > Steven Kosmerchock > Engineering Technician/Student > CELWAVE > Phoenix Arizona USA > Email: .....steve.kosmerchockKILLspam@spam@celwave.com > http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/lab/6584 >

Let me add a few more things about Zilog chips. at work we use to use zilog chip more then 3 years I found very strange problems with it. 1. any input you should have at list 150 mv that means if you have a switch connected to the input directly you are in trouble workout put 1 mohm resister on crystal pins 2. Factory test mode accidentally may enable if osc1 input gets 9 volts noise for 3 ms. we use our product in noisy environment we had mystery problems with Zilog. workout put clamping diode one side to the VDD and the other side to the osc1 pin. any way we do not use Zilog chips any more I use my favorite Microchip product I always been happy with this company excellent product and excellent support. I think Zilog is good for toys or something if it didn't work properly kids are not going to notice them they may thing that is how it made any way Good lock with Zilog users. Andre Abelian Vinay Kumar wrote: {Quote hidden}> I used Zilog Z86E30 and got it masked thru their Distri in Hong Kong. I > placed order for 10k pcs and paid 3000 USD for masking charges over and > above the cost of masked parts. > > However distri got 10k pcs manufactured after my producted clikced in the > marker and sold it in the trade market. When I complained this to Zilog's > Hong Kong office, they simply said it is beyond their scope. They get > order from distri and do not have anything to do with end customer. > > Now I use Motorola parts even if they art more expensive. No Zilog - Cant > trust them > > Vinay Chaddha > > On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, Steven Kosmerchock wrote: > > > Russel, > > Last week I asked a question about what processor would be good > > out of the Z8, AVR, SX, and SST's "FlashFlex 51" family. I received > > about 4 emails straight to me. They all had used ZILOGs chips for sometime. > > The thing that caught my attention was that they all basically had the > > same complaint, ZILOG seems to have this habit of changing their die > > and not telling people. A few people did say that overall ZILOG is a > > good chip for selection, price, and are great number crunchers. > > Hope this helps, if you decide to go that way let me know how it > > works out. > > > > Best regards, > > Steven > > > > Steven Kosmerchock > > Engineering Technician/Student > > CELWAVE > > Phoenix Arizona USA > > Email: steve.kosmerchockKILLspamcelwave.com > > www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/lab/6584 > >