Microchip has announced the MCP4141/2 and MCP4241/2 non-volatile digital potentiometers. The new 7- and 8-bit devices have an SPI interface and are specified over an extended temperature range of -40 to +125 degrees Celsius. Unlike mechanical potentiometers, the MCP41XX/42XX devices can be controlled digitally, via an SPI interface. This can increase system accuracy, flexibility and manufacturing throughput, while decreasing manufacturing costs. ...

Microchip has announced the MCP1631 2.0 MHz, high-speed Pulse Width Modulator (PWM). The MCP1631 PWM provides a means to close the feedback loop in Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPSs) that use microcontrollers for general system intelligence and control. The integration of the SMPS input and output interfaces in the MCP1631, via its high-speed voltage comparator, battery-voltage and current-sense amplifiers, and its 1A MOSFET driver, enable design...

A newly-refurbished laboratory was opened today at the University of Reading – thanks to a £40,000 investment from Microchip Technology Inc.

Microchip introduces the 25AA1024 and 25LC1024 - the fastest 1 Megabit serial EEPROM devices in the industry – along with the 25AA128, 25LC128, 25AA512 and 25LC512 128 Kbit and 512 Kbit devices. Microchip now provides SPI serial EEPROMs across a wide memory-density range (1 Kbit – 1 Mbit). All of the new devices are specified to operate over an extended temperature range (up to 125°C), and provide the performance for which Microchip’s ser...

Microchip has announced eight new members of the PIC18F high-performance 8-bit microcontroller family that take advantage of Microchip’s latest process technology developments, offering lower power consumption, low cost and high-performance operation. The new devices’ low-power nanoWatt Technology features include power-managed modes, an operating voltage range of 1.8V to 3.6V and efficient on-chip peripherals.

Microchip has announced the mTouch solution to provide engineers with a free and easy method for adding a touch sensing user interface to applications using PIC microcontrollers. The software is available for free download from the Microchip Touch Sensing Design Center at www.microchip.com/mtouch and provides full access to the source code, so designers can modify the algorithms and easily integrate them with their own application in a single mic...

Microchip announces it is accepting registrations for its first ever European Microchip’s Annual Strategic Technical Exchange and Review (MASTERs) Conference, to be held in Munich from November 6th-8th 2007. MASTERs is an in-depth, bi-directional exchange of technical information between Microchip subject-matter experts and the Company’s technical partners, including consultants, customers, third parties, distributor FAEs and design houses. T...

Microchip announces ICwiki (www.microchip.com/ICwiki)—a Web site that enables engineers to collaborate and share information related to semiconductor products, applications and best practices. Using Wiki technology, participants can change content on the site and participate in Web logging (“blogging”), voting and messaging. ICWiki is available in several different languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Po...

Microchip has announced the MCP1703 Low Dropout Regulator (LDO)—a 250 mA LDO with low quiescent current of just 2μA and high input voltage of up to 16V. The new LDO features device- and circuit-protection capabilities including over-voltage protection and thermal shutdown. The MCP1703 also offers highly accurate output-voltage regulation, including +/- 2 percent over-temperature accuracy, helping to ensure smooth, reliable system operation...

Microchip announces the MCP1401 and MCP1402 (MCP140X) single-output MOSFET drivers. The inverting MCP1401 and non-inverting MCP1402 MOSFET drivers are rated for a peak output current of 0.5A, over a wide operating voltage range of 4.5V – 18V. They have excellent latch-up immunity and are available in miniature, 2 x 3 mm DFN and 5-pin SOT-23 packages.

Microchip has announced two high-performance (40MIPS), low pin count (18- and 28-pin) 16-bit product families – the PIC24HJ12GP family of microcontrollers and the dsPIC33FJ12GP family of Digital Signal Controllers. Both families feature Peripheral Pin Select capability, which allows designers to re-map digital I/O – allowing designers to use smaller pin count devices, minimise board space, and optimise board layout to reduce noise.

Microchip has announced an online Lighting Applications Design Centre at (www.microchip.com/lighting). This site provides a wide range of technical tools and resources that designers can use to add intelligence to lighting designs — including information relating to Microchip’s PIC microcontrollers, dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs), analog and memory products, as well as development tools.

Microchip announces six new members of its 8-bit PIC® microcontroller family featuring an integrated Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) module. The PIC18F85J90 family doubles the amount of Flash and RAM memory available in 64- and 80-pin PIC18 LCD devices. This increased memory enables users to add more complex functionality, such as speech playback, while taking advantage of the cost savings offered by the PIC18 “J” series’ 3-volt manufacturing...

Microchip has announced the MCP1603 - a 2 MHz, 500 mA switching regulator. It provides adjustable and fixed output voltages, operating efficiency of up to 90%, and is available in Thin SOT-23 (TSOT-23) and 2 mm x 3 mm DFN packages. The new device is ideal for extending battery life and reducing heat dissipation in a variety of portable, handheld electronic devices.

Microchip Technology has announced the inauguration of a new state-of-the-art Design Centre in Bucharest, Romania. The new centre was opened on 17th April by Microchip’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Sanghi, and Microchip has initially recruited 15 staffers, with a total of 30 jobs planned by the end of 2008 and 100 over the next four years. The new centre forms part of Microchip’s worldwide network of Design Centres located in India, Switz...

Microchip has expanded its linear product portfolio with the low power, high-precision MCP6031, MCP6032, MCP6033 and MCP6034 operational amplifiers. The new devices have a quiescent current of only 900 nA and a bandwidth of 10 kHz. The highly accurate amplifiers are ideal for handheld, portable electronic devices used in the medical, industrial and consumer markets.

Microchip announces eight new members of its PIC24F 16-bit microcontroller family, with up to 64 Kbytes of Flash program memory and up to 8 Kbytes of RAM, in smaller, lower cost, 28- and 44-pin packages including a tiny 6x6 mm 28-pin QFN package option. The 28 and 44-pin PIC24FJ64GA004 family contains a similar peripheral set to the 100-pin PIC24FJ128GA family. “Peripheral Pin Select” pin-mapping allows designers to use the available pins ex...

Microchip has announced its MCP7381X Li-Ion/Li-Polymer charge-management controllers. Offering programmable charge currents up to 500 mA, they feature integrated current sense, integrated pass transistor, thermal regulation and reverse battery protection, all in a 5-pin SOT-23 package.

Microchip announces the 12-member PIC18F87J11 high-performance 8-bit microcontroller family, offering greater performance (up to 12 MIPS at 48 MHz), enhanced peripherals and lower standby power consumption. The new family includes nanoWatt Technology for low power consumption in sleep mode (as low as 100 nA) which is ideal for battery-powered applications. The new devices are also the first Microchip 8-bit microcontrollers to offer the Parallel M...

Microchip announces the PIC16F882 - the lowest-cost member of the PIC18F88X family yet. The PIC16F882 provides design engineers with a lower-cost migration option. The PIC16F882, along with the other four members of the PIC16F88X family, are pin- and code-compatible with other 28/40-pin PIC® Microcontrollers - offering a wide range of migration options, while providing a host of new features. The PIC16F88X enhancements include dual internal osci...