To contribute to this ongoing trend, Microchip Technology Inc. is introducing five new product families and more than 60 new devices that offer simple solutions to embedded system designers for their most common problems.
Designers aiming to create innovative designs are turning to Microchip's new PIC and AVR microcontroller families for their processing power, ease of communication with other chips, and analog peripherals, which are exceptionally configurable without requiring changes to the printed circuit board. These devices combine the capabilities of an ASIC with a simplified development experience that enhances the capabilities of traditional microcontrollers and allows them to be configured as intelligent peripheral chips. Intelligent peripherals, such as the software-controlled operational amplifier built into the PIC16F171 family, the Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO), and the Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC), add value to applications that would not otherwise utilize traditional microcontrollers.
The challenge of working with multiple voltage domains is common in systems comprised of chips that use different supply voltages (e.g., connecting a 5V microcontroller to a 1.8V sensor). Such systems would typically require level-shifting hardware, increasing costs. The MVIO peripheral integrated into Microchip's latest 8-bit microcontrollers, such as the AVR DD family, allows one microcontroller port to operate at a different voltage than the rest of the microcontroller, eliminating the need for external components.
Some systems demand a level of speed and response time that is difficult to achieve through software-based processing. Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) available in Microchip's PIC and AVR product lines can be programmed with MCC (MPLAB® Code Configurator) for easy connection and a hardware processing chain. This allows for the creation of custom peripherals that eliminate software processing cycle times. For example, a WS2812 LED matrix, which requires its own timing for proper control, can be easily managed by configuring a super-peripheral consisting of a Pulse-Width Modulator (PWM), an SPI interface, and a Configurable Logic Cell (CLC).
Alongside the continued growth of the 8-bit PIC and AVR microcontroller market, Microchip continues to meet its customers' long-term needs by maintaining a strong foundation in its product portfolio and support structure. Design is remarkably simple thanks to PIC and AVR microcontrollers, and the support network enables Microchip customers to accelerate their time to market. Their 8-bit microcontrollers feature pin compatibility, allowing for the selection of a PIC or alternative microcontroller when higher performance is required or when a customer wants maximum product availability while minimizing redesign requirements.
“PIC and AVR microcontrollers are hugely popular because they are designed to meet our customers’ requirements in current and future applications,” said Greg Robinson, vice president of marketing for Microchip’s 8-bit microcontroller business unit. “We have also developed a robust supply chain for 8-bit PIC and AVR microcontrollers, the vast majority of which are manufactured in Microchip’s own facilities. This allows us to control the production process at a level rarely seen in the industry.”.
development tools
offer a complete ecosystem of hardware and software tools, including its Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) MPLAB® X and MPLAB® Xpress and the MCC (MPLAB® Code Configurator), which offers an intuitive graphical interface for generating production-ready configuration and application code in projects based on 8-bit microcontrollers.
