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Microchip leverages MIPS IP in 32bit, 80MHz PIC32 MCUs
The PIC32 family contains integrated USB 2.0 On-the-Go (OTG) and aims to make it easy to add USB devices, embedded host and dual-role OTG connectivity.
By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 2/26/2008
To help design engineers address the growing demand for advanced USB connectivity in their end products, Chandler, Ariz.-based microcontroller and analog semiconductor company Microchip Technology Inc said today it has integrated USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) functionality into its 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller family from MIPS Technologies Inc.
Powered by the MIPS32 M4K processor core, the PIC32 MCU family now includes IP from both the analog and processor business groups of MIPS.
The Chipidea full speed USB 2.0 OTG controller is a highly optimized, low gate count IP core that allows system developers to implement compact, cost-effective, low-power USB-based SoC solutions and is architected for maximum flexibility, high performance and low cost. The device controller operates at full speed and low speed data rates, and the architecture is a blend of firmware and hardware that allows embedded host controller implementations to be optimized for specific applications, while a protocol-aware DMA engine offloads the system processor by independently controlling data transfers directly in hardware, MIPS explained.
Microchip noted that its PIC32 family now brings more performance and memory to embedded designers while maintaining pin, peripheral and software compatibility with its 16-bit microcontroller and DSC families.
The maximum operating frequency for the PIC32 family has been increased to 80MHz, the company said.
To ease migration and protect tool investments, Microchip asserted that it provides the only complete portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit devices to be supported by a single integrated development environment: the free MPLAB IDE.
Microchip also reminded that consumers’ desire for more engaging, easy-to-use and upgradable products is driving embedded designers to add the latest USB OTG capabilities and some products, such as PCs, operate only in a host role, whereas others, like USB Flash drives, operate only as devices.
Products with OTG functionality can operate in either role, even automatically negotiating which will be the USB host or device when encountering another OTG product and the new PIC32 microcontrollers with integrated USB OTG provide the flexibility to add all three modes of USB operation. Additionally, these PIC32 MCUs include a USB OTG PHY, enabling even lower BOM costs and smaller PCB real estate, the company said.
PIC32 products are supported by Microchip’s development tools, including the MPLAB IDE, the MPLAB C32 C compiler, the MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system, the MPLAB ICD 2 in-circuit debugger, and the MPLAB PM3 universal device programmer.
Microchip also provides free source code for USB software stacks and class drivers at www.microchip.com/PIC32. The free USB OTG Stack is currently in beta, with full release scheduled for Q2.
