Nuvoton MG51 Series is a new family of 8-bit 8051 microcontrollers clocked at up to 24 MHz with up to 64KB flash, 4KB SRAM, 5V operation, industrial temperature range, and a range of peripherals such as UART, I2C, SPI, 12-bit ADC, as well as up to 46 GPIOs.
Some may have assumed 8-bit microcontrollers may be dead by now, but Nuvoton is not giving up, and after the MUG51 8-bit 8051 microcontroller family was introduced in 2023, the company is at it again with the MG51 Series, offering a higher clock speed, higher memory and storage capacity, and additional I/Os. Target applications include home appliances, LED lighting control, motor control, and industrial automation.
Nuvoton MG51 specifications:
- MCU core – 8-bit 1T 8051-based CMOS microcontroller up to 24 MHz; fully compatible with MCS-51
- Memory
- 256 bytes on-chip RAM
- Up to 4 KB auxiliary RAM (XRAM)
- Storage
- Up to 64 KB Flash Memory
- 4 KB Flash Memory for user program loader (LDROM)
- 128 bytes security protection ROM (SPROM)
- Communication Interfaces
- 2x UART
- 1x I²C Master / Slave interface up to 400 kbps
- 1x SPI Master / Slave interface
- Up to 3x ISO7816-3 interfaces with UART support
- Analog – Up to 15-channel, 12-bit 500 ksps SAR ADC
- GPIO – Up to 46 I/Os with interrupt capability
- Timers
- 4x 16-bit timers
- 12x PWM output, with Fault Brake function
- 1x Self Wake-up Timer (WKT) for self-timed wake-up for low-power modes
- 1x programmable Watchdog Timer (WDT) clocked by 10 kHz internal source
- Clocks
- 16 MHz high-speed internal oscillator (HIRC) with selectable 24 MHz core speed, trimmed to ±1% (accuracy at 25°C, 2.4V to 5.5V), ±2% in -20°C to +105°C
- 10 kHz low-speed internal oscillator (LIRC) calibrating to ±1% by software from high-speed internal oscillator
- Security
- Prevents program readout via ICP pins through Flash lock bits.
- 128-byte Security Protection ROM (SPROM). In security mode, the SPROM region is executable-only and inaccessible for code or data read. In non-security mode, it can also be used as Data Flash.
- 96-bit Unique ID (UID) and customizable 128-bit Unique Customer ID (UCID)
- Misc – Noise Immunity – 7 kV ESD (HBM) and 4.4 kV EFT protection.
- Power Management
- Supply Voltage – 2.4 V to 5.5 V
- POR with 1.15V threshold voltage level
- Supports BOD (4.4V / 3.7V / 2.7V / 2.2V falling edge)
- LVR with 2.0V threshold voltage level
- Packages – TSSOP20/28, QFN20/33, LQFP32/48
- Temperature range – -40°C to +105°C
The MG51 Series is compatible with Keil C51, IAR EW8051, and Nuvoton’s own NuEclipse SDCC cross-platform embedded development suite for 8051 and Arm cores. The latter integrates multiple Eclipse plug-ins and tools to speed development and works on both Linux and Windows. Software documentation and tools can be found in the Resources tab of the product page linked at the end of this article.
Nuvoton also offers two NuMaker development boards: the NuMaker-MG51FC and the NuMaker-MG51LD. Both look very similar with an integrated Nu-Link2-Me debugger, Arduino UNO headers, and two USB connectors. However, the NuMaker-MG51FC is based on the MG51FC9AE (TSSOP20) with a 20-pin package and 18 I/O pins, while the NuMaker-MG51LD is powered by an MG51LD1AE (LQFP48) with a 48-pin package and 46 I/Os all exposed through extension connectors/headers.
Four SKUs are currently available on Nuvoton Direct, and the cheapest device (MG51EC1AE) sells for 38 cents in 2K+ quantities. The NuMaker-MG51FC goes for $25, and the NuMaker-MG51LD for the same price. Additional details may be found on the product page and the press release.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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