Microchip Sets New Benchmark for Low-Power MCUs

Microchip Technology Inc. unveiled several new 8-bit PIC® microcontrollers (MCUs) that the company says sets the industry benchmark for low-power microcontrollers and peripheral integration. These new MCUs feature active currents of less than 50µA/MHz and sleep currents down to 20nA. The PIC12F182X MCUs extend Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core product line into the 8-pin segment, and include mTouch™ capacitive touch-sensing, and communications peripherals. The PIC16F19XX MCUs feature a broad range of peripherals, such as mTouch capacitive touch-sensing module, LCD drive, multiple communications and more Pulse width Modulator (PWM) peripherals. All of these general-purpose MCUs are well suited for applications in the appliance, consumer, industrial and automotive markets, among others.

According to the company, nanoWatt XLP technology remains the standard for battery-friendly MCUs, which, combined with the extremely low active-current consumption of these new MCUs, improves overall energy efficiency to levels currently not readily available. Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture provides an up to 50% increase in performance, and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40% better code execution over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs. The PIC1XF182X MCUs include dual I²C™/SPI interfaces, multiple PWM channels with independent time bases, a Data Signal Modulator, and other peripherals that enable designers to combine many functions into a single MCU. The PIC16F19XX MCUs provide up to 28 KB of Flash program memory and numerous enhanced capabilities. The on-chip LCD drive supports up to 184 segments and provides a low-power drive mode for increased efficiency. The MCUs also include up to 5 Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) channels with independent time bases for controlling various motor types and peripherals.

Steve Drehobl, Vice President of Microchip’s Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division, said, "Microchip further solidifies its low-power leadership with the introduction of the PIC1XF182X and PIC16F19XX 8-bit microcontrollers. The new MCUs represent a significant expansion of our enhanced Mid-range 8-bit core product family, which provides additional memory, peripherals and performance. The improvements to the active power consumption in combination with our XLP technology set the industry standard for low power operation in small 8-bit MCUs."

The PIC1XF182X and PIC16F19XX MCUs are available in DFN, PDIP, QFN, SOIC, TQFP, TSSOP and UQFN packages of varying sizes, from 8- to 64-pins; at prices ranging from $0.69 to $1.74 each, in 10,000-unit quantities.