Microchip integrates and simplifies graphics on PIC24F MCUs

CHANDLER, USA: Microchip Technology Inc. announced the eight-member PIC24FJ256DA microcontroller family, which integrates three graphics acceleration units and a display controller, along with 96 Kbytes of RAM.

This integration reduces system costs and makes it practical to add advanced graphics displays for a wide range of embedded applications, by eliminating the need for external RAM and a display controller. Additional savings are achieved through the integrated peripherals for USB and capacitive touch sensing. To enable quick time to market, Microchip’s Graphics Display Design Center provides a host of resources for application designers, such as the free and easy-to-use Graphics Library and Visual Design Tool.

With consumers now accustomed to advanced graphics and touch sensing in their portable electronics, designers must bring these interfaces quickly and at low cost to a vast array of embedded products. Building on its broad portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers for segmented and graphics display applications, Microchip’s PIC24FJ256DA family makes it feasible for designers to migrate beyond fixed-function, segmented LCDs to STN, TFT and OLED displays with up to VGA resolution.

This family also features 24 channels of on-chip mTouch capacitive touch sensing, which enable a large number of buttons, sliders and keys. Additionally, the integrated Full-Speed USB Embedded Host, Device and On-the-Go module allows end users to easily upgrade software, log data and customize settings.

“Until now, the latest graphics interfaces were beyond the reach of most embedded applications, in terms of both cost and complexity,” said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division.

“By integrating all of the hardware needed to drive modern graphics displays onto a single microcontroller, along with touch sensing and USB modules, Microchip is enabling embedded designers to modernize and differentiate their products. Plus, we provide the software tools and examples our customers need to quickly and easily develop the graphics content of their applications.”

Example applications for the PIC24FJ256DA family include: consumer (thermostats, cordless phones, remote controls, gaming accessories); home appliance (coffee makers and other counter-top appliances, ovens, refrigerators, washing machines); industrial (points of sale, remote terminals); and portable medical (glucometers, blood-pressure monitors, portable ECGs).