Microchip exhibit peripheral-rich MCUs

The core independent peripherals also reduce system complexity by eliminating the need for additional code and external components. Hardware-based peripherals offload timing-critical and core-intensive functions from the CPU, allowing it to focus on other critical tasks within the system.

The PIC16(L)F161X PIC MCUs offer the Math Accelerator (Math ACC) with Proportional Integral Derivative (PID), which provide completely core independent calculations, with the capability to perform 16-bit math and PID operations. The family also includes the Angular Timer (AngTmr), which is a hardware module that calculates the rotational angle in functions, such as motor control, TRIAC control, or capacitive discharge ignition systems. Regardless of speed, the AngTmr allows recurring interrupts at a specific rotational or sinusoidal angle without using the core’s computation. The CIPs can be configured to perform a host of given functions that increase execution speeds and decrease software requirements. Offloading these functions frees up the CPU do other tasks, consumes less programme memory and reduces the overall power consumption of the MCU.

In addition to the MATH ACC and AngTmr, the PIC16(L)F161X features several other peripherals designed to ease implementation and add flexibility of various functions. The 24-bit signal measurement timer performs high-resolution measurements of the digital signal, in hardware, resulting in more precise and accurate measurements. This is suitable for speed control, range finding and RPM indicators. The family also includes a zero cross detect module, which can monitor AC line voltage, and indicate zero crossing activity, simplifying TRIAC control applications by greatly reducing both CPU demand and BOM cost. In combination with the 100mA, high-current I/Os, the proven configurable logic cell, and I2C, SPI and EUSART for communications, this high level of integration helps to speed design, eases implementation and adds flexibility.

The family also supports the implementation of safety standards such as Class B and UL 1998 or fail-safe operations by combining a windowed watchdog timer, which monitors proper software operation within predefined limits to improve reliability, and a cyclic redundancy check with memory scan that detects and scans memory for corrupted data. In addition, hardware limit timers detect hardware fault conditions which include stall, stop etc., enabling engineers to integrate safety and monitoring functions to their applications with minimum to zero involvement from the CPU. Along with all these features, the family offers low-power XLP technology and is provided in small-form-factor packages, ranging from 8-, 14- and 20-pin packages.

The PIC16(L)F161X family is supported by Microchip’s development tools, including the PICkit 3 and MPLAB ICD 3. The MPLAB Code Configurator is a plug-in for Microchip’s free MPLAB X IDE that provides a graphical method to configure 8-bit systems and peripheral features, moving from concept to prototype in minutes by automatically generating efficient and easily modified C code for each application.

PIC12(L)F1612 MCUs are available today for sampling and volume production in 8-pin PDIP, SOIC, and 3x3mm DFN and UDFN packages. The PIC16(L)F1613 MCUs are also available today in 14-pin PDIP, SOIC, TSSOP, and 4x4mm UQFN and QFN packages. The PIC(L)F1614 and PIC(L)F1615 are available now for sampling in 14-pin PDIP, SOIC, TSSOP, and 4x4mm UQFN and QFN packages, and volume production is expected in January. The PIC16(L)F1618 and PIC(L)F1619 MCUs are also available today for sampling in 20-pin PDIP, SOIC, TSSOP, and 4x 4mm UQFN and QFN packages, and volume production is expected in January.