50 MHz Cortex-M3 with CAN and Ethernet — what it brings to the BOM
The LM3S8970-IQC50-A2T: It integrates a CAN 2.0 controller, a 10/100 Ethernet MAC+PHY, plus I²C, SPI, SSI, Microwire, UART, and IrDA serial interfaces — a peripheral set aimed at industrial control, building automation, and networked sensor nodes that need both real-time fieldbus and IP connectivity on a single chip. The 46 GPIOs in a 100-pin LQFP leave room for local I/O expansion without an external CPLD.
On-chip oscillators and debug access
An internal oscillator is available, though for CAN and Ethernet timing accuracy an external crystal or oscillator is typical. The JTAG/SWD debug port (not listed in the peripheral summary but standard on Stellaris parts) stays alive even with the watchdog enabled, which simplifies firmware bring-up — you can halt on a hard fault without fighting the reset vector.
Supplied in a 100-LQFP (14x14 mm body) — a common footprint shared with other Stellaris 100-pin devices. Surface-mount only.