MCU is the key device for the development of embedded systems, widely used in consumer electronics, industrial control, automotive electronics and communications and other fields. With the development of Internet of things, MCU in the complex embedded systems play an increasingly important role, but to adapt to these new applications, MCU need to have the flexibility.
32-bit MCU into the mainstream, 8-bit MCU widely used
MCU (microcontrollers) a wide range of products, according to the bus or data register width is divided into 8,16,32,64 bit MCU. In general, MCU is the CPU and GPU thin version, the computing power is relatively weak, running the clock speed is relatively low. In the storage architecture MCU and CPU and GPU distinction is more obvious, especially 8-bit and 16-bit MCU, usually only on-chip storage. Because the cost is low, lower power consumption, so very popular, but the advanced 32-bit MCU and low-end CPU difference is not obvious, let alone 64-bit MCU.
MCU market is still in the growth stage, the level of MCU demand continues to rise, the application continues to expand. The current 8-bit MCU widely used, 32-bit MCU has become mainstream. Usually in a large number of data operations and image processing, etc., to 32-bit MCU-based; in the control of applications, enter the market earlier 8-bit MCU products have a lot of competitive advantages, such as 8-bit MCU products early into the consumer , Medical supplies, industrial control, automotive electronics and other market applications, product stability, cost-effective to meet the demand, still dominate. These products have been stable production, due to safe and reliable and cost advantages, has become the 8-bit MCU market development cornerstone.
In the face of 8-bit and 32-bit MCU "two-way attack", 16-bit MCU processing efficiency and cost may not have obvious advantages, will gradually die, which has become the consensus of most MCU manufacturers. When the MCU into the 64-bit field, its computing performance and application areas have been with the 64-bit CPU, AP not far, so a few years ago manufacturers have tried to launch 64-bit MCU to test the water temperature, but because of too little application, Coupled with the current 32-bit MCU enough to meet a variety of market demand, 64-bit MCU is also difficult to popular for the time being.
(1) MCU has a broad market space
With the development of intelligent tools, MCU products, the growing market demand, from the traditional electronic intelligent transformation, the emerging intelligent equipment, intelligent equipment distribution of multi-machine, intelligent equipment bus, intelligent equipment, local area network, The era of networking, ubiquitous perception of artificial intelligence and control of the terminal field, have shown that the MCU has an infinite market. Analysts pointed out that global MCU sales in 2015 rose only 5.6% to $ 16.8 billion, is expected to 2018 market size will exceed 20 billion US dollars.
2012 - 2018 Global MCU Market Sales
China MCU market size is particularly large, the growth rate of the international leader. China's MCU sales in 2015 was 25.6 billion yuan, 2016 China's MCU sales of 27.2 billion yuan, compared to 2015 growth of 6.2%. Is expected to 2018 China MCU market size will reach 32.3 billion yuan.
China - MCU Market Sales in
(2) domestic MCU market competition
At present the domestic market has more than 50 manufacturers to introduce all kinds of MCU products to apply in different areas. In addition to NXP, ST, Microchip, Renesas, Infineon, TI, Cypress and other international big-name manufacturers, there are China's Taiwan's Holtek Semiconductor, New Tang Technology, Elan Electronics, Song Han Technology and other manufacturers; domestic domestic and more than 20 manufacturers , Such as Shanghai Haier, in Ying Electronics, BYD, Shenzhen micro, macro crystal technology.
It is predicted that in 2016, China's domestic market, the top 5 MCU manufacturers are NXP, ST, Microchip, Renesas, Infineon, the domestic Ying Ying Electronics, Actions and China's Taiwan's Holtek Semiconductor, New Tang Technology, Elan Electronics Their specialty applications have a good performance. Although the MCU has enough market demand, which is no doubt, but with the domestic MCU manufacturers continue to increase, similar products continue to increase, domestic MCU product homogenization of competition and price war more and more intense; especially in the general MCU market competition more intense , The chip itself is getting smaller and smaller, manufacturers must be in the software, solutions and application direction reflects the value of the product, to avoid falling into a price war. Global MCU industry layout is with the entire semiconductor industry brewing new big changes, and can effectively grasp the mobile devices and Internet MCU business opportunities at home and abroad suppliers, will certainly have the opportunity to laugh at the end.
2016 in China MCU manufacturers market share forecast
Adapt to new applications, MCU to have flexibility
As the core of thousands of smart networking products, MCU's unique feature is its precise customization of functionality and performance. Looking forward to the exciting future of the Internet world, the traditional embedded processor and the ever-changing needs of the gap between the Internet is also increasing, people need to provide lower power consumption, more scalable, more robust Computing performance, higher security, and a better user experience. MCUs want to continue to appear in the new application scenarios, MCU architecture to have sufficient flexibility and adaptability to suit different applications.
With decades of experience in providing MCU and application processors for the consumer, industrial and networking markets, NXP has developed a new embedded processor family, the i.MX RT cross-border family of processors. This new application processor uses the MCU core, but based on the application processor architecture, both the application processor to achieve high performance and rich functionality, while both traditional MCU ease of use and real-time low power operation characteristics The Increasingly, today's market requires efficient, high-performance embedded processing technology to provide an enhanced user experience and higher data processing capabilities without increasing cost and power consumption, resulting in gaps in the embedded processor world. Cross-border family of processors with application processor typical performance level and security features, both MCU's ease of use, real-time operation and low power consumption.
As an effective blend of high performance and ease of use, cross-border solutions are tailored to a range of specific applications where some of these applications are not met by application processors and MCU products. Some applications for cross-border processors can include, but are not limited to.
1、for high-end, consumer audio equipment, audio subsystem design, including guitar sound pedal and other special equipment.
2、for the mass market applications, general embedded design, such as measurement systems, medical equipment, vending machines and Internet of things gateway.
3、man-machine interface (HMI) graphic functions for home and building automation (eg HVAC temperature control, security, lighting control panel), Amotech industrial computing design (eg EBS, PLC, factory automation, testing and measurement, M2M, HMI Control, assembly line robots) and consumer products (such as smart home appliances, camcorders, LCD and other high-end display).
4、motor control and power conversion, suitable for 3D printers, thermal printers, unmanned aerial vehicles and other professional equipment, and vacuum vacuum cleaners and other consumer products.
With these cross-border processors, NXP is responding to growing market demand and is designed to deliver the highest performance and cost-effective embedded solutions for a more intelligent, secure and evolving interconnect market.
Summary： We believe that the development of a smarter Internet world should be driven by innovation and should not be limited by the choice between MCU and application processors. Embedded product designers should be free to choose the most innovative processor for their design, rather than allowing the processor to limit the choice of its final design may be achieved innovation.
