Microchip announces 8-, 14- and 20-pin enhanced mid-range PIC MCUs

CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. has unveiled several new, peripheral-rich 8-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs) with active currents of less than 50 µA/MHz and extremely low sleep currents.

The PIC12F182X and PIC16F182X (PIC1XF182X) MCUs extend Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core product line into the 8-pin segment, bringing the total number of Enhanced 8-bit core PIC MCUs to 16, in packages ranging from 8 to 64 pins.

With their extreme low power and high levels of integration, including mTouch capacitive touch-sensing and multiple communications peripherals, the general-purpose PIC12F182X and PIC16F182X MCUs are well suited for a wide range of applications in the appliance (e.g. coffee makers, blenders, dishwashers); consumer (e.g. vacuum cleaners, printers, remote controls); and automotive markets (e.g. LED lighting, keyless entry, body electronics), among others.

nanoWatt XLP technology remains the standard for battery-friendly MCUs, and, when combined with extremely low active-current consumption of less than 50 µA/MHz, improves overall energy efficiency in a wide variety of applications. Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture provides an up to 50 percent increase in performance, and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40 percent better code execution over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs.

Microchip’s Enhanced 8-bit architecture provides 50 percent increase in performance, and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40 percent better C-code efficiency, over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs. The PIC1XF182X MCUs include dual I2C/SPI interfaces, more PWM outputs with independent time bases, and a Data Signal Modulator that enables designers to combine many functions into a single MCU.

“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 leadership in low-power operation with the introduction of the PIC1XF182X family of microcontrollers,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. “These new microcontrollers also feature several new or enhanced peripherals including mTouch capacitive touch sensing, dual I2C/SPI interfaces, 32-level built-in voltage reference, and Data Signal Modulator along with the efficiency gains due to our enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit architecture.”