Out in Front: July 18, 1996
To support designs with LCD outputs and OTP memory, Microchip now offers the PIC16C9XX family with these features, thus enhancing user friendliness and simplifying interfaces among more complex systems. The combined LCD and OTP capability allows Microchip to service midrange-volume designs. Furthermore, the PIC16C9XX family can eliminate the need for multiple 4- and 8-bit, ROM-based µCs.
The PIC's LCD module supports multiple timing sources and static, one-half, one-third, or one-fourth multiplexing. The module contains an on-chip charge pump that allows you to control LCD brightness and even drive an LCD panel while the µC is in its sleep mode.
The first two devices in the PIC16C9XX family, the PIC16C923 and PIC16C924, operate off an 8-MHz clock and contain a 4k×14-bit EPROM, a PWM output, and a synchronous serial port that supports serial-peripheral-interface and I2C buses. The PIC16C924 also contains a five-channel, 8-bit ADC. The devices come in 64-lead TQFP and 68-lead PLCC packages. Prices are $7.09 and $7.84 (1000) for the PIC16C923 and PIC16C924, respectively.
—by Markus Levy
Microchip Technology Inc, Chandler, AZ. (602) 786-7668, http://www.mchip.com/.