Energy Micro has introduced a low cost starter kit for its EFM32 Gecko microcontroller family. The $69 kit provides all the basic functionality a system developer needs to build energy efficient applications based on the 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3-based EFM32 Gecko microcontrollers, which were proven to consume less than a quarter of the energy of other 8-, 16- and 32-bit microcontrollers.
The starter kit PCB features Energy Micro’s EFM32G890F128 microcontroller, a 160-segment LCD display driven by the microcontroller’s energy efficient on-chip LCD controller, and a touch slider to demonstrate the microcontroller’s capacitive sensor interface capability.
Other I/O facilities include 4 x LEDs, 2 x push buttons and a dedicated MCU reset button. All unused I/O is terminated at the board edge for users to access via a standard PCB header. An expansion port is also included for more complex application development.
To enable users to further optimise application energy efficiency, Energy Micro’s unique Advanced Energy Monitoring system (AEM) means current consumption data can be accurately viewed in real time, allowing adverse energy drains to be identified and remedied at an early stage. To simplify application debugging and programming the on-board J-Link emulator is accessible via both USB and standard 20-pin connectors.
The starter kit is supported by Energy Micro’s energyAware software library, built around ARM’s standard CMSIS abstraction layer. Third party supported includes IAR’s Embedded Workbench, Keil’s MDK-ARM, and CrossWorks from Rowley Associates.
Energy Micro EFM32 Gecko starter kit
Energy Micro
RELATED ARTICLES
Energy Micro's 32-bit MCUs Targeted at Space-, Cost-sensitive Applications
Energy Micro to Enter Low-power RF Arena
