Microchip Adds Smallest and Lowest-Cost PIC Microcontroller With I2C to its Portfolio

Additionally, this new MCU features 3.5 KB Flash program memory, 256 Bytes RAM, a 32 MHz internal oscillator, low-voltage operation from 1.8V to 3.6V, and low power consumption for active and sleep currents of 50 µA/MHz and 20 nA, respectively.

The hardware CVD enables a more efficient implementation of capacitive sensing for touch applications. This “Core-Independent Peripheral” includes additional control logic that enables automated sampling, which reduces software size and minimizes CPU usage. It also provides automatic control of guard-ring drive and a programmable sample-and-hold capacitance, to better match larger touch or proximity sensors. These capabilities, combined with the low cost and small footprint of the PIC12LF1552, make it well suited for applications such as temperature-monitoring devices, small remote controls (e.g., garage doors and window blinds), smartphone buttons (e.g., input interfaces for Android and Windows 8 phones utilizing hardware CVD), room light control (e.g., switching and dimming, both taking advantage of hardware CVD), and coffeemakers (e.g., input interfaces and water-level monitoring, which both could utilize the hardware CVD and the integrated communication capabilities), among others.

“The low-cost PIC12LF1552 extends Microchip’s PIC12/PIC16F15XX family by providing I2C in our most compact 8-pin package, to address a wide variety of space-constrained and cost-sensitive applications,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s MCU8 Division. “Designers can also make use of the integrated hardware CVD to improve their design’s efficiency if capacitive touch or proximity sensing is required.”

Development Support

Microchip’s full suite of development tools support the PIC12LF MCUs, including the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and PICkit 3 (part # PG164130, $44.95), MPLAB REAL ICE In-Circuit Emulator (part # DV244005, $499.98), and MPLAB ICD 3 (part # DV164035, $189.99) programmers. Additionally, the MPLAB XC8 Compiler for 8-bit PIC MCUs now supports this device.

Pricing & Availability

The PIC12LF1552 MCU is offered in 8-pin PDIP, SOIC, MSOP and 2x3x0.5 mm UDFN packages. It is available today for sampling and volume production.