Microchip intros lowest-cost 16-bit PIC MCU family

embedded world 2012, CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. has announced a new addition to the 16-bit PIC24 Lite microcontroller (MCU) family that combines eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, low price and low pin count packages for the most cost-sensitive consumer, medical, and safety/security applications.

The PIC24F “KL” family features typical sleep currents of 30 nA at 25°C, and typical run currents of 150 µA/MHz at 1.8V. In order to optimize low-cost applications, these products include flexible peripherals, such as the Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP), which enables designers to configure either an I2C or SPI interface, as well as the Enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) peripheral that allows designers to customize for multiple PWM and input-capture configurations. The “KL” family of products is available in 14-, 20- and 28-pin packages, starting at $0.75 each, in high-volume quantities.

Today’s manufacturers are under intense pressure to cut costs, even as they deliver more sophisticated, lower-power products. With its combination of features in low pin count packages, the PIC24 “KL” MCUs provide an ideal entry-level 16-bit solution for applications with lower I/O and memory requirements, such as low-cost electronic toys, electric shavers and portable blood-pressure monitors. The MCUs perform at up to 16 MIPS with a flexible peripheral set, enabling customers to differentiate their products in the marketplace while keeping costs low.

“The PIC24F ‘KL’ family was developed for cost-sensitive applications that require 16-bit performance, extremely low power sleep and active modes, and low pin count package options,” said Mitch Obolsky, VP of Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. “Our new MCUs meet these needs, at prices starting at just $0.75 each in high-volume quantities, to cater to the most cost-sensitive applications.”