This section provides an overview for 32-bit microcontrollers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 32-bit microcontroller manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked 32-bit microcontroller companies as of November, 2024: 1.Endrich Bauelemente Vertriebs GmbH, 2.Microchip Technology Inc., 3.Singapore Changi Technology Pte. Ltd..
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Categories Related to 32-Bit Microcontrollers
A 32-bit microcontroller is a microcontroller with a maximum instruction code bit width of 32 bits and a data bit width of 4 to 32 bits.
Microcontrollers are manufactured as semiconductor chips, and in addition to 32-bit microcontrollers, there are 4-bit, 8-bit, and 16-bit microcontrollers. 32-bit microcontrollers are at the highest level and have extremely high processing power.
As evident in various home appliances that are labeled "microcontroller-equipped", microcontrollers are utilized in a wide range of modern electrical products, including those used in industrial applications. LED displays that indicate operational states typically use 4-bit microcontrollers, while 8-bit microcontrollers are used for controlling white goods, and 16-bit microcontrollers are used in remote control products, depending on the required performance.
A 32-bit microcontroller, which has the highest level of processing performance, is used in situations where large amounts of data are processed at high speed or complex processing is performed at high speed, such as image processing for TVs and DVDs, data communications in communications equipment, engine control and driving control in automobiles, and image recognition and motion control in robots.
Most 32-bit microcontrollers are equipped with not only standard peripheral circuits but also specialized processing circuits for specific applications, as complex and high-speed processing is required.
For example, applications related to image processing such as TV, DVD, and image recognition require a large number of sum-of-products operations. Since executing this operation in software requires a large number of steps and is extremely time-consuming, a dedicated circuit for high-speed processing in hardware is integrated to speed up the process.
In addition, for communication-related applications, a dedicated circuit called a UART that converts serial to parallel is used to process data that is mixed with various communication protocols.
Thus, 32-bit microcontrollers are also called system LSIs because they perform complex processing at high speed on a single chip by incorporating dedicated circuits for each application.
Today advances in semiconductor technology have made it possible to integrate one billion transistors on a single semiconductor chip. As a result, smartphones and other devices can integrate multiple dedicated circuits and CPU cores on a single chip and run user-developed applications, and the boundary between microcontrollers and processors is becoming blurred.
32-bit microcontrollers are available in two types of instruction bit widths depending on the architecture of the Central Processing Unit (CPU): 32-bit fixed-length and 4~32-bit variable-length. Variable-length instructions are smaller in program size.
As the name "controller" implies, microcontrollers are used for controlling various devices and have limited applications compared to microprocessors found in servers, PCs, and other general-purpose applications.
Another difference between microcontrollers and microprocessors is the emphasis on real-time performance. To control devices, processing must be done on the fly, and the Operating Systems (OS) used in 32-bit microcontrollers are real-time OS that differ from the usual Windows OS. A typical real-time OS is the Japanese TCP/IP OS. A typical real-time OS is uITRON, a product of Japan's TRON project.
In a 32-bit microcontroller, various timer/counter circuits, A/D converters, D/A converters, I/O port circuits, LCD driver circuits, memory circuits, etc. are integrated into the same semiconductor chip with a 32-bit CPU as the core.
The core of a 32-bit microcontroller is the CPU core, which greatly influences processing performance and ease of use, of which the ARM core is the most representative.
The ARM core is the core of the microcontroller found in most smartphones and information appliances for both iOS and Android and was developed by ARM, a company founded in the UK in 1990. It is a CPU core with a fixed-length, concise instruction set architecture while also having the features of a variable-length instruction set. Its simple circuit structure makes it easy to apply to the progress of semiconductor miniaturization, and it is characterized by its low power consumption and high processing power.
Low power consumption is essential for mobile devices that require batteries and industrial devices that are in constant operation. The arrival of the IoT era, in which various objects are connected to the network, has accelerated the demand for microcontrollers with both low power consumption and high performance.
ARM cores were licensed at the architecture and circuit levels, and were introduced in many companies, especially for mobile PCs and smartphones, rapidly expanding their market share.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Silicon Labs, established in 1996 with headquarters and production and R&D facilities in the USA, is a manufacturer of electronic devices and related equipment for the home automation, industrial automation, data center, automotive, communications, healthcare, and retail markets. The company's products include microcontrollers, RF integrated circuits, intelligent sensors, USB bridges, clocks, oscillators, isolators, PoE controllers, and modems. The company offers a cloud-based software platform integrated with Silicon Labs' hardware to allow their developers and OEMs to build advanced industrial, commercial, home, and life applications that include circuit breakers, home appliances, battery-powered tools, and smart hospital equipment.
Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Teledyne e2v Semiconductors, founded in Chelmsford, England in 1947 is a manufacturer of semiconductor devices and power radio frequency solutions. The company's product portfolio includes RF Power solutions, Hi-rel semiconductor solutions, image sensors, cmos image sensors, and CCD image sensors. They serve markets such as medical, mining, food processing, vehicle manufacturing, and aerospace avionics. The company has offices in, Grenoble (France), Seville (Spain) and Beijing (China) and provide services including product selection, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair.
LAPIS Technology, founded in Japan, in 2020 is a manufacturer of Microcontroller, Video LSI, and Speech Synthesis LSI. The company's product portfolio includes Wireless LSI, Wireless Charging LSI, Display Driver, Li-ion Battery Monitoring LSI and displays that are used in TV sets, PC monitors, vehicles and industrial monitors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, and Custom Manufacturing.
Nuvoton Technology Corporation, founded in 2008 with headquarters in Taiwan, is a semiconductor manufacturer that provides foundry capabilities as a manufacturing partner to fabless or fab-lite semiconductor companies. Nuvoton Foundry FAB offers a variety of technologies, including generic logic, mixed signal (mixed Mmde), high-voltage power management components, and embedded logic non-volatile memory. The company provides customized design and manufacturing services, including multi-layer mask and multi-project wafer production services. Nuvoton Technology Corporation's products and services are also used in sensors, biochips, and TVS.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation is a division of Toshiba focusing on providing designs for end-product developers as well as semiconductor and drive equipment for automotive, industrial equipment, green energy, and consumer and personal electronic devices. Toshiba’s storage products include cloud-scale and enterprise-level products, and PC hard drives. Semiconductor products include Si Cower devices, MOSFETs, IGBTs, IEGTs, isolators, solid state relays, power management and intelligent power ICs, diodes, bipolar transistors, microcontrollers, automotive devices, ICs for wireless communication equipment, general purpose logic ICs, radio-frequency devices, sensors, and linear image sensors.
NXP was established in 2006 as a spinoff from Phillips and is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company is a co-founder of NFC communication and designs and manufactures semiconductors that serve the automotive, industrial, mobile, and smart home industries. The company’s automotive products include driver assistance transceivers, sensors, and security systems. For industrial markets, the company produces RFID readers, processors, and microcontrollers. For communication infrastructure, the company produces RF mixers, diodes, and low-noise amplifiers for wireless LAN networks. The company also produces peripherals, power management chips, communications chips, and interface devices.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Texas Instruments Incorporated was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Texas Instruments is a producer of high tech equipment for industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment industries. Texas Instruments designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers in the United States and internationally. Texas Instruments operates in two segments: analog and embedded processing. The Analog segment offers power products, including battery-management solutions, DC/DC switching regulators, power switches, linear regulators, voltage references, and lighting products. The Embedded Processing segment offers microcontrollers that are used in fields such as electronic equipment and digital signal processors for mathematical computations.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Singapore Changi Technology Pte. Ltd., founded in March 2015 and based in Singapore, is a manufacturer and supplier of semiconductor solutions. The company's product range includes 8-bit MCU, 32-bit MCU, ASIC IC, control circuit board solutions, and SKD kits. These products are used in home appliances, toys, healthcare, and consumer electronics. It serves the industries of home appliances, toys, healthcare, and consumer electronics in South and South East Asia. The company provides services such as professional development tools, silicon-proven IPs, embedded OTP/MTP/Flash memory, and ESD protection.
ROHM Semiconductor was incorporated in 1940 and is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. ROHM manufactures and sells electronic components worldwide. ROHM operates through the segments ICs, discrete semiconductor devices, and modules. ROHM provides ICs comprising memory, amplifiers and linear, power management, clocks and timers, switches and multiplexers, logic, data converters, sensors and MEMS, display drivers, motor/actuator drivers, interfaces, communication and speech synthesis LSI, audio and video, and microcontrollers. ROHM also offers discrete semiconductor products include MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and diodes; power devices, including power transistors and diodes, SiC power devices, IGBT, and IPM; passive devices, such as resistors, and conductive polymer and tantalum capacitors; and various modules among others.
CHINA MICRO SEMICON CO., LIMITED, founded in 2001, is a Shenzhen-based IC design platform firm, designer, and supplier of digital analog mixed-signal and analog chips. The goods include chips for household appliances, consumer electronics, automotive electronics, processing chips for sensor signals, and motor & battery chips. Consumers of the chips are found in power devices, the Internet of Things, medical devices, and industrial control. The business has received awards like the 16th Shenzhen Enterprise Innovation Record Award, the Nationa High-tech Enterprise Certificate, and certificates for its intellectual property management system.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Endrich Bauelemente Vertriebs GmbH |
19.6%
|
2 | Microchip Technology Inc. |
15.2%
|
3 | Singapore Changi Technology Pte. Ltd. |
13.0%
|
4 | Silicon Laboratories |
8.7%
|
5 | Texas Instruments |
8.7%
|
6 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
8.7%
|
7 | CHINA MICRO SEMICON CO.,LIMITED |
6.5%
|
8 | Renesas Electronics Corporation. |
6.5%
|
9 | ROHM Co., Ltd. |
4.3%
|
10 | NXP Semiconductors |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the 32-bit microcontroller page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 4 | 30.8% |
United States of America | 3 | 23.1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 7.7% |
Taiwan | 1 | 7.7% |
Netherlands | 1 | 7.7% |
Singapore | 1 | 7.7% |
Germany | 1 | 7.7% |
China | 1 | 7.7% |