Microchip brings cost-effective analog/digital capabilities to 8-bit PIC microcontrollers

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love the way in which Microchip presents us with the choice between a typical press release (lots of words, hard to read, boring) and a “Here are the facts” version that leaves me saying “Wow – what just happened?” Below we see an example of the latter:

Key facts

• Microchip Technology today announced from DESIGN West in San Jose  the expansion of its 8-bit PIC16F(LF)178X enhanced Mid-range core microcontroller (MCU) family to include advanced analog and integrated communication peripherals, such as on-chip 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), 8-bit Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), operational amplifiers, and high-speed comparators, along with EUSART (including LIN), I2C™ and SPI interface peripherals.
• The MCUs also feature the industry’s best level of advanced PWM control and accuracy via the new Programmable Switch-Mode Controllers (PSMCs).  
• The “LF” versions of the MCUs feature eXtreme Low Power Technology, for active and sleep currents of just 32 µA/MHz and 50 nA, respectively, helping to extend battery life and reduce standby current consumption.  
• Environmental concerns and “green” initiatives have led to the rise of new energy-consumption legislation around the world.
• The PIC16F(LF)178X MCUs enable designers to create better products that consume less power.  
• Microchip’s enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core brings more performance, with 32 MHz operation, automatic context save for faster interrupt handling, more efficiency in the instruction set with better code density, plus faster and more direct-port control capabilities.  
• Available in 28- and 40-pin packages, the MCUs’ advanced analog integration includes an on-chip 12-bit ADC for very small voltage measurements, as well as enabling mTouch capacitive sensing; and an 8-bit DAC for high-resolution voltage references.  
• Also included on-chip are fast analog comparators with 50 nS response time, Capture Compare Peripherals, and I2C™, SPI and EUSART interfaces for communications.  
• Additionally, the MCUs feature a 32 MHz internal oscillator, 2 - 8K Words (3.5 - 14K Bytes) of Flash, 128 – 512 Bytes of RAM, and 256 Bytes of data EEPROM.  
• The PSMC peripherals are 16-bit Pulse-Width Modulators (PWMs) with 64 MHz operation and advanced control capabilities.

Example applications

• Low power consumption and advanced analog and digital integration make the general-purpose PIC16F(LF)178X MCUs ideal for LED lighting, battery management, digital power supply, motor control, closed-loop control in power supplies, and lighting applications, among others.  

Pricing and availability
The PIC16F(LF)1782/3/4/6/7 MCUs are available in 28-pin SOIC, SPDIP, 6 x 6 mm QFN, and 4 x 4 mm UQFN; as well as 40-pin PDIP, TQFP, 8 x 8 mm QFN, and 5 x 5 mm UQFN packages.  Pricing starts at $1.18 each, in 10,000-unit quantities.

• Click Here to order samples  
• Click Here to order volume-production quantities
• For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Website.
• To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to microchipDIRECT or contact one of Microchip’s authorized distribution partners.

Visit www.ubmdesign.com/breaking-news for more news from DESIGN West

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