News and New Products

16-bit processors get a boost

By Robert Cravotta, Technical Editor -- EDN, 1/13/2006

Microchip is expanding the support for 16-bit processing with the new PIC24 microcontroller family and two new dsPIC33 digital-signal-controller families of devices. These devices deliver more processing performance with more integrated memory and peripherals to lower system costs for 16-bit designs. These devices also support a seamless migration path from Microchip’s midrange, 8-bit microcontrollers in nomenclature, pin, and peripheral compatibility. Microchip’s universal MPlab integrated-development-environment platform supports software development across the 8- and 16-bit processor families.

Supporting higher processing performance, the 16-bit dsPIC33 devices deliver deterministic execution of as much as 40 MIPS. The integrated serial-I/O subsystem includes as many as two each of SPI, I²C, UART, and CAN (controller-area-network) ports. On-chip memory comprises as much as 256 kbytes of flash and as much as 30 kbytes of RAM. The 64- to 100-Pin TQFP devices operate at 3.3V. In addition to these features, the general-purpose dsPIC33s include one or two 12-bit, 500k-sample/sec ADCs and a codec interface. The motor-control and power-conversion dsPIC33s differ by offering one or two 10-bit, 1.1M-sample/sec ADCs, a quadrature encoder interface, and PWM for motor-control, lighting, and power-conversion applications. The dsPIC33 devices are available for general sampling beginning in March, and sell for as low as $5.43 (10,000).

The 16-bit PIC24 microcontrollers debut with 22 general-purpose devices containing as much as 16 kbytes of RAM and 256 kbytes of flash program memory in packages with as many as 100 pins. The PIC24F targets applications that are pushing the envelope of 8-bit microcontroller capabilities. The PIC24H delivers more than twice the processing performance of the PIC24F to support more demanding applications, and it includes more memory and additional peripherals, including CAN modules and as many as two 12-bit ADCs. General sampling of these devices begins in March. The PIC24F is available for prices starting at $4.55 (10,000), and the PIC24H is available for prices starting at $5.16.

Microchip, www.microchip.com.