Stellaris Cortex-M3 with integrated Ethernet
The Texas Instruments LM3S6950-IQC50-A2T is a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 MCU from the Stellaris 6000 series, clocked at 50 MHz with 256 KB of Flash program memory and 64 KB of SRAM.
256 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM — firmware and data budget
The 256 KB Flash is sized for moderate-complexity firmware — enough for a TCP/IP stack, a real-time OS kernel, and application logic without external memory. The 64 KB SRAM supports packet buffering for Ethernet traffic and local data logging; designs that exceed this budget will need to move to a higher-density sibling or add external SRAM.
100-LQFP package — footprint and rework
For rework or repair, a hot-air station with a fine nozzle and preheating from the board underside is recommended to avoid lifted pads. The 46 I/O lines are distributed around the perimeter, which simplifies routing on a two-layer board but demands attention to signal-integrity for the Ethernet differential pairs.
