Microchip Technology Inc., today announced the expansion of its Enhanced 8-bit Mid-range core microcontroller (MCU) portfolio, with higher memory and pincount devices featuring nanoWatt XLP technology and industry-leading active power consumption. The PIC16F193X and PIC16F194X MCUs feature a broad range of peripherals, including an mTouch capacitive touch-sensing module, LCD drive, multiple communications peripherals, and more Pulse-Width Modulator (PWM) channels, with independent timers. The new MCUs deliver increased performance for a wide variety of applications in the appliance (e.g. coffee makers, dishwashers, refrigerators); industrial (e.g. digital thermostats, security systems, utility metering); medical (e.g. thermometers, portable health-monitoring devices); and automotive (e.g. keyless entry, interior controls) markets, among others.
The PIC16F19xx MCUs provide up to 28 KB of Flash program memory and numerous enhanced capabilities such as data EEPROM, peripheral functionality over the full 1.8V – 5.5V operating voltage, 32-level bandgap reference and three rail-to-rail input comparators. The MCUs benefit from the enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture with 49 instructions for optimized program code and data handling, for both C and Assembly programmers. The “LF” family members feature nanoWatt XLP technology for extremely low sleep currents, as well as new enhancements that reduces the active power consumption by as much as 50%. The on-chip LCD drive supports up to 184 segments and provides a low-power drive mode for lower power operation while updating the display. The MCUs also include up to 5 Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) channels with independent time bases for controlling various motor types and peripherals.
“Whether increasing battery life, lowering the electric bill or just caring for our environment, as consumers become more sensitive to the rising cost and availability of energy, total cost of ownership is becoming more significant in even the most basic electronics,” said Tom Hackenberg, senior analyst, IMS Research Semiconductors Group. “The total cost of a system is not only the selling price, but how efficient that system can be run, and one of the biggest evolutions in lowering energy costs is designing smarter with more efficient processors. For a truly valuable system, the processor can’t just have a lower active energy cost, it needs a lower average energy cost, which means lowering the voltage, the active and sleep currents and the amount of time spent in active mode. Using efficient processors to lower the energy usage of battery-operated devices, automated devices and smarter energy-sensitive devices is enabling. This leads to lowest total cost of ownership and ultimately greater value and customer satisfaction.”
“The PIC16F19XX MCUs represent a significant expansion of our enhanced 8-bit Mid-range core product family, which provides additional memory, peripherals and performance to meet these needs,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. “These new MCUs feature several new and unique features, for example the combination of segmented LCD drive and mTouch capacitive touch-sensing peripherals that enable low cost user-interface designs.”
Key Features
The following table summarizes key features of the PIC16F19XX MCUs.
|
Feature |
|
|
Max. Frequency |
32 MHz |
|
Internal Oscillator |
31.25 kHz to 32 MHz, Software Selectable |
|
Program Memory |
Up to 28 KB Flash |
|
Data EEPROM |
256 Bytes |
|
Data Memory |
Up to 1 KB |
|
Timers |
Up to 4 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit, |
|
Communication |
Up to 2 each x MI2C/SPI and EUSART |
|
Analog-to-Digital Converter |
17 x 10-bit |
|
Comparators |
Up to 3 x with Rail-to-Rail Inputs |
|
PWM Channels |
Up to 5, with Independent Time Base |
|
Operating Voltage |
1.8 – 5.5V |
|
Standby Current |
60 nA @ 1.8V, Typical |
|
mTouch Capacitive Touch Sensing |
Up to 16 Channels |
|
LCD Drive |
Up to 184 Segments |
|
Other Capabilities |
N/A |
Development Tool Support
Designers can use Microchip’s F1 Evaluation Platform (part # DM164130-1) for developing with enhanced 8-bit PIC MCUs. The platform includes a 44-pin development board populated with a PIC16LF1937 MCU, prototyping space, 3V LCD glass, support for the PICkit 3 In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer (part # PG164130), as well as a motor-control add-on. Additionally, the PIC16F1937 Plug-In Module (part # MA160012) for Microchip’s PIC18 Explorer Board (part # DM183032) is available.
