Microchip’s new DSCs and MCUs bring 70 MIPS performance and cap touch to cost-sensitive designs

CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. announced the expansion of its enhanced core 16-bit dsPIC33 and PIC24 “E” Digital Signal Controller (DSC) and microcontroller (MCU) families to include on-chip op amps and Microchip’s Charge Time Measurement Unit peripheral (CTMU), enabling advanced features in user-interface, intelligent-sensing, general-purpose and motor-control applications at a low cost.

The new devices are pin compatible with existing 16-bit dsPIC33 and PIC24 products for easy migration, and are available in multiple package options, including the new, ultra small 5 mm x 5 mm 36-pin VTLA package.

With 70 MIPS of DSP performance and a 6-channel Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) peripheral, the dsPIC33 and PIC24 “E” devices provide advanced motor control and high-speed application execution. This results in more efficient, smaller and lower-cost designs, as a single DSC or MCU can be used to control the entire system.

The on-chip op amps can be used in a variety of sensing applications where signal conditioning is needed, and reduce the need for external components, helping to reduce overall design cost and size. The CTMU peripheral, used in mTouch capacitive touch-sensing, simplifies the addition of innovative and reliable user interfaces, including keypads, buttons and sliders.

“Our new dsPIC33 and PIC24 ‘E’ devices provide high performance and innovative features at a lower cost than previously possible,” said Sumit Mitra, VP of Microchip’s High-Performance Microcontroller Division. “These new dsPIC33 and PIC24 'E' devices are among the most capable and cost-effective controllers on the market.”