About UsMicrochip's New PIC and AVR Microcontrollers
New devices include support for multi-voltage I/O, ADC's with Computation and Integral Op-Amps
Microchip Technology have released five new product families and over 60 new individual devices that offer embedded designers simple solutions to their most common problems. These new devices combine ASIC-like capabilities with a simple development experience that extends traditional MCU capabilities and allows them to be configured as smart peripheral chips. These smart peripherals include software-controlled op-amp's, the Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO) and Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC) add value to applications that otherwise would not use traditional MCUs.
The challenge of spanning multiple voltage domains is a common situation in systems that include chips using different supply voltages (e.g., connecting a 5V MCU to a 1.8V sensor). This type of system normally requires level-shifting hardware, which adds to the cost of the system. The MVIO peripheral found on Microchip’s latest 8-bit MCUs, including the new AVR DD family, allows a single port on the MCU to operate in a different voltage domain than the rest of the MCU, which eliminates the need for additional external components, such as level shifters, which are normally required to interface with sensors using different supply voltages.
Some systems require a level of speed and response time that is difficult to achieve with software-based processing. The Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) available across the Microchip PIC and AVR product range can be programmed with MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) from Microchip, to be easily connected to form a hardware processing chain. This makes it possible to create custom peripherals that eliminate software processing cycle times. For example, the WS2812 LED array IC, which requires unique timing to be driven correctly, can be controlled easily by configuring a super peripheral consisting of a Pulse-Width Modulator (PWM), an SPI interface, and the Configurable Logic Cell (CLC). This reduces the need for the main core CPU to execute the necessary code to handle the operation and interfacing of this IC, reducing the load on the CPU and allowing it to operate on the main part of the program.
“PIC and AVR microcontrollers are incredibly popular because they are designed to meet our clients’ requirements for current, as well as future, applications,” advised Greg Robinson, vice president of marketing for Microchip’s 8-bit MCU business unit. “We have also built a robust supply chain for 8-bit PIC and AVR MCU's, the vast majority of which are manufactured in Microchip-owned facilities. This allows us to control the production process in ways that are not common in the industry.”
Features of the AVR® DD Family
- High-Performance AVR RISC CPU
- Running up to 24 MHz
- External High-Frequency Oscillator
- Single Cycle I/O Access
- Two-level Interrupt Controller
- Sleep Modes: Idle, Standby, Power-down
- Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO)
- Event System (EVSYS)
- Configurable Custom Logic (CCL)
- Single pin programming and debugging interface (UPDI)
- Analog Features
- 12-bit Differential Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
- 10-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) with Output Buffer
- Zero-Cross Detector (ZCD)
- Analog Comparator
- Timer/Counters
- One 16-bit Timer with three compare channels for PWM
- Three 16-bit Timer/Counters
- One 16-bit Real-Time Counter
- Communication
- Serial communication interfaces: USART, SPI, I2C
- Built-in Safety Functions
- Clock Failure Detection (CFD)
- Power-On Reset (POR)
- Brown-Out-Detection (BOD)
- Voltage Level Monitor (VLM)
- Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) Scan
- Window Watchdog Timer with Window Mode (WWDT)
Features of the PIC16F171 Family
- C Compiler Optimized RISC Architecture
- Running up to 24 MHz
- 16-Level Deep Hardware Stack
- Low-Current Power-on Reset (POR)
- Configurable Power-up Timer (PWRT)
- Brown-out Reset (BOR)
- Low-Power Brown-out Reset (LPBOR)
- Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT)
- Memory
- Up to 28 KB of Program Flash Memory
- Up to 2 KB of Data SRAM Memory
- Up to 256 Bytes of Data EEPROM Memory
- Analog Features
- 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC)
- 8-Bit Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)
- Two Comparators
- Operational Amplifier with programmable gain
- Timer/Counters
- Two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) Modules
- Up to Four Pulse-Width Modulators (PWM)
- Complimentary Waveform Generator (CWG)
- One Configurable 8/16-Bit Timer (TMR0)
- Two 16-Bit Timers (TMR1/3)
- Up to Three 8-Bit Timers (TMR2/4/6)
- Communication and I/O
- Two Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitters (EUSART)
- Two Host Synchronous Serial Ports (MSSP), for SPI and I2C
- Device I/O, Up to 35 I/O pins
- Power
- Operating Voltage Range - 1.8V to 5.5V
- Power-Saving - Doze, Idle and Sleep Modes
- Peripheral Module Disable (PMD)
More information on the AVR DD Family can be found on the Microchip Web site at Microchip AVR64DD32 product page
More information on the PIC16F171 Family can be found on the Microchip Web site at Microchip PIC16F17146 product page.
Note: The Microchip name and the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
The company’s Web site address is www.microchip.com
[Reprinted with kind permission from Microchip Corporation - Release Date, 28th April, 2022]