Microchip expands USB microcontroller portfolio with three enhanced midrange 8-bit families

All feature internal clock sources with the 0.25% clock accuracy necessary for USB communication, which saves up to $0.15 by eliminating the need for an external crystal. Additionally, all three families are eXtreme Low Power compliant, with power consumption down to 35 µA/MHz Active and 20 nA in Sleep mode.

The 14- and 20-pin PIC16F145X MCUs are Microchip’s lowest-cost and smallest-form-factor USB MCUs to date. Available in packages as small as 4x4 mm and featuring a wide array of integrated peripherals, the three-member family enables embedded applications that require USB connectivity and capacitive touch sensing, such as pulse oxymeters, PC accessories and security dongles.

The PIC18F2X/4XK50 devices, available in 28- and 40/44-pins, offer a cost-effective, pin-compatible migration option for customers utilizing legacy PIC18 USB MCUs. The three family members feature 1.8-5V operation, and integrate a “Charge Time Measurement Unit” for higher performance cap-touch sensing as well as measurement in applications such as audio docks and data loggers.

The full-featured PIC18F97J94 family is Microchip’s first to offer integrated LCD control, RTCC with Vbat, and USB on a single 8-bit PIC microcontroller. Available in 64, 80 and 100 pins, the nine-member family offers a 60x8 LCD controller (for a total of 480 segments), which eliminates the need for an external controller in applications with large segmented displays. It also integrates a real-time clock/calendar with battery back-up for end products such as home-automation/security panels, handheld scanners and single-phase energy meters.

“Today’s broad announcement demonstrates our commitment to innovation in the 8-bit MCU market,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s MCU8 Division. “No one else offers crystal-free USB microcontrollers from 14 to 100 pins with this level of integration and low power consumption.”
Development Support

To help speed development times, the downloadable and open-source USB Framework within the free Microchip Library of Applications includes USB drivers for many common USB classes, including HID, CDC, Mass Storage, Win-USB and Audio-MIDI. These drivers can be used with all 15 of the new PIC MCUs.