The MC3510 is a new step motor control version of the Pilot™ family of motion processor chips from Performance Motion Devices, Inc (PMD). This single-axis motion processor provides pulse and direction output up to 50 kpulses/sec, including sophisticated features such as s-curve profiling, multiple breakpoints, on-the-fly profile changes, at-rest indicators, and programmable PLC-style inputs and outputs. The MC3510 is packaged in a 132-pin device with surface mount CMOS technology and is powered by 5 volts. The MC3510 is driven either by a host microprocessor through an asynchronous bi-directional serial port or through a 16-bit micro-processor style parallel interface. This gives users the ability to offload resource intensive motion control functions from the application's host. The Pilot MC3510 is ideal for embedded systems in semiconductor, medical, scientific instrumentation, industrial control, and robotic applications. Full documentation and technical specifications are available online at www.pmdcorp.com.

"The MC3510 represents the absolute state of the art in a single-axis, single-chip product," says Chuck Lewin, vp of marketing at PMD. "Dedicated motion chips such as the Pilot™ series have been evolving rapidly and can now perform at a level comparable to board-level products. The benefits of such a product are performance, convenience, and time to market."