Freescale: ColdFire Family Overview

Overview

ColdFire

With a wide range of 32-bit microcontroller solutions, a rich choice of performance and peripherals, and low power operation, the ColdFire 32-bit MCU offers good flexibility and choice. A healthy ecosystem of development tools and design resources, makes 32-bit straightforward.

ColdFire is derived from the 68k microprocessor architecture, which was designed and manufactured for embedded systems development . The ColdFire instruction set is "assembly source" compatible, and not entirely object code compatible with the 68000. When compared to classic 68k hardware, the instruction set differs mainly in that it no longer has support for the binary-coded decimal (BCD) packed data format, It also removes a number of other, less used instructions; and most instructions that are kept support fewer addressing modes. Also, floating point intermediates are 64 bits and not 80 bits as in the 68881 and 68882. The instructions are only 16, 32, or 48 bits long, a simplification compared to the 68000 series.

Entry-level 32-bit ColdFire embedded controllers that combine high performance and extended functionality with the flexibility of advanced Flash memory technology in a compact, inexpensive package. The ColdFire V1 core is one of the first 8/32-bit compatible architectures. Embedded controllers utilizing the V1 core will share common peripherals and development tools with Freescale’s S08 8-bit architecture, providing pin-for-pin compatibility for straightforward migration to 32-bit.

Designed for 32-bit entry-level applications, the V1 core is a simplified version of the ColdFire V2 core. It features improved handling of byte (8-bit) and word (16-bit) operands, while maintaining the same addressing modes and instruction definitions of the ColdFire architecture. By making multiply-accumulate (MAC), enhanced MAC (eMAC) and divide (DIV) functions optional, designers can minimize cost in applications that don't require enhanced processing performance. The ColdFire V1 core utilizes the S08 single-pin background debug module (BDM) for package pin compatibility. This updated debug interface implements a buffer for BDM-readable trace functionality, while maintaining minimum processor overhead.

The V1 core leverages the 2-stage instruction fetch pipeline and 2-stage operand execution pipeline featured in the ColdFire V2 microarchitecture. With a standardized 8-bit bus to S08 peripherals and tightly-coupled 32-bit local memories (flash and SRAM), the V1 core provides an ideal entry point to 32-bit performance. Upward compatibility to all other ColdFire cores (V2 – V4) ensures designs have a roadmap to higher performance. V2 solutions feature cost effective 32-bit ColdFire embedded controllers that combine high performance and extended functionality with flexibility or advanced Flash memory technology in a compact, inexpensive package.

ColdFire+

ColdFire+ 32-bit microcontrollers build upon ColdFire's heritage and signify the next step in evolution of this architecture family. These next generation ColdFire products combine fast but low-power performance with a wide set of analog, connectivity and security peripherals, all contained in cost-effective, small footprint packages. Enabled by innovative 90nm Thin Film Storage (TFS) flash technology with FlexMemory, ColdFire+ adds high precision, high performance mixed signal capabilities, incredible ultra-low-power capabilities and key peripherals for specific market applications. A comprehensive enablement bundle delivers a one-stop-shop solution for MCUs, development tools and runtime software easing the development process.

The ColdFire+ Qx and Jx families bring new features to the ColdFire portfolio, including FlexMemory, configurable embedded electrically erasable programmable read–only memory (EEPROM), highly–accurate mixed–signal capability, low–power features and additional application–specific peripherals for consumer devices