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Microchip Significantly Expands Enhanced 8-bit PIC MCU Portfolio

2nd March 2010

ES Admin

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Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today unveiled several new 8-bit PIC® microcontrollers (MCUs) that sets the industry benchmark for low-power microcontrollers and peripheral integration. These new MCUs feature active currents of less than 50 µA/MHz and sleep currents down to 20 nA. The PIC12F182X MCUs extend Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core product line into the 8-pin segment, and include mTouch™ capacitive touch-sensing, and communications peripherals. The PIC16F19XX MCUs feature a broad range of peripherals, such as mTouch capacitive touch-sensing module, LCD drive, multiple communications and more Pulse width Modulator (PWM) peripherals. All of these general-purpose MCUs are well suited for applications in the appliance; consumer; industrial and automotive markets, among others.

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nanoWatt XLP technology remains the standard for battery-friendly MCUs, which, combined with the extremely low active-current consumption of these new MCUs, improves overall energy efficiency to levels currently not readily available. Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture provides an up to 50% increase in performance, and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40% better code execution over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs. The PIC1XF182X MCUs include dual I2C™/SPI interfaces, multiple PWM channels with independent time bases, a Data Signal Modulator, and other peripherals that enable designers to combine many functions into a single MCU. The PIC16F19XX MCUs provide up to 28 KB of Flash program memory and numerous enhanced capabilities. The on-chip LCD drive supports up to 184 segments and provides a low-power drive mode for increased efficiency. The MCUs also include up to 5 Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) channels with independent time bases for controlling various motor types and peripherals.

“With active current of less than 50 µA per MHz, Microchip has set the new industry benchmark for low-power microcontrollers,” said Tony Massimini, chief of technology with Semico Research Corporation. “These low active currents, plus sleep currents down to 20 nA and the industry-leading number of peripherals integrated onto the PIC12F182X, PIC16F182X and PIC16F19XX MCUs, enable engineers to create battery-friendly designs that also incorporate capacitive touch sensing, LCD, communications and other functions, which will help differentiate their products in the marketplace.”

“Microchip further solidifies its low-power leadership with the introduction of the PIC1XF182X and PIC16F19XX 8-bit microcontrollers. The new MCUs represent a significant expansion of our enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core product family, which provides additional memory, peripherals and performance,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. “The improvements to the active power consumption in combination with our XLP technology set the industry standard for low power operation in small 8-bit MCUs.”