NXP Semiconductors today announced sampling of the world's smallest general-market 32-bit microcontroller, the LPC1102, based on the Cortex-M0 processor.

Unleashing high computing power in 5mm2 of PCB area, this device is targeted at very high volume applications requiring an ultra-miniature board footprint.

"NXP?s LPC1100 is the lowest-priced 32-bit MCU solution in the market, bringing higher value and ease of use than existing 8/16-bit microcontrollers through unprecedented performance, simplicity, low power, and more importantly, dramatic reductions in code size for all 8/16-bit applications, " NXP said.

The LPC1102, with 32KB of Flash and 8KB of RAM on-chip, is available in Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WL-CSP) with dimensions of 2.17 mm2 x 2.32 mm2, thickness of 0.6 mm, and pitch of 0.5 mm. Key product features include a 4-channel 10-bit ADC, one UART, one SPI, two 32-bit and two 16-bit timers, and one 24-bit system timer. SWD debugging and programming with four breakpoints and two watchpoints are also included. A total of eleven I/O functions also double as general purpose input and output GPIO for maximum flexibility. Offering very low power consumption with active mode current as low as 130uA/MHz, the LPC1102 features an internal IRC oscillator, accurate to ±1 percent over the industrial temperature and voltage range. It can also be clocked with an external source.

Samples are available for NXP's customers at ESC 2010 Silicon Valley April 27-29 and later in May worldwide. Volume production will start in Q4 2010.