Microchip Introduces 8-bit PIC16F145X/PIC18F97J94 with Crystal-Free USB LCD and EEPROM

Microchip Technology has introduced 15 Full-Speed USB 2.0 PIC microcontrollers. The PIC16F145X/PIC18F97J94 feature internal clocks with 0.25% accuracy and up to 128KBytes Flash. Cost savings for not requiring an external crystal is about $0.15. The new PIC microcontrollers 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.

All 15 microcontrollers are in Microchip's eXtreme Low Power. Active current is as low as 35uA/MHz and Sleep is as low as 20nA.

Features
Features of the new Microchip microcontrollers include:

• Either 8-bit PIC16 or 8-bit PIC18 core
• Vcc= 1.8V to 5.5V
• 48MHz internal oscillator
• Up to 128KBytes Flash
• Up to 4KBytes RAM
• Low Power RTCC
• Hardware Multiply (PIC18F2X and PIC18F4XK50 only)
• CTMU Touch measurement (PIC18F2X and PIC18F4XK50 only)
• 256Bytes EEPROM with 200k R/W cycles (PIC18F2X and PIC18F4XK50 only)
• Up to four EUSARTs
• I²C
• SPI
• Two Comparators
• PWM with complement generation
• Crystal-Free USB 2.0 (device mode only)
• LCD controller supports 480 segments (60x8)
• 10-bit or 12-bit ADC

The Microchip PIC18F2X/PIC18F4XK50 microcontrollers are a cost-effective, pin-compatible migration option for Engineers using legacy Microchip PIC18 USB microcontrollers.  These devices feature 1.8-5V operation, and integrate a "Charge Time Measurement Unit" (CTMU) for high performance cap-touch sensing as well as measurement in applications such as audio docks and data loggers.

The full-featured Microchip PIC18F97J94 family offers 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), eliminating an external controller in applications with large segmented displays.  It also integrates a real-time clock/calendar (RTCC) with battery back-up for applications 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 Tools 
An open-source USB Framework is available for download within the free Microchip Library of Applications (MLA). This includes USB drivers for many common USB classes, including HID, CDC, Mass Storage, Win-USB and Audio-MIDI.  Drivers can be used with all 15 of the new Microchip PIC microcontrollers.

Microchip hardware development tools include the Low Pin Count USB Development Kit (part # DM164127, $39.99), available now, for use with the PIC16F145X family.  The PICDEM^TM FS-USB Board (part # DM163025-1, $59.99) is expected to be available in October, for use with the PIC18FXXK50 family.

Microchip's development tools support Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms.

Full-Speed USB Plug-in Modules (PIMs) are expected to be available in November for the PIC18F97J94 and PIC18F87J94, at a cost of $45 each, that operate standalone or in conjunction with Microchip's existing LCD Explorer Development Board (part # DM240314, $125) and PIC18 Explorer Development System (part # DV164136, $165), respectively. 

Pricing & Availability
"Pricing starts at $0.50 each (14KB Flash, 1KB RAM) in high volumes.  The PIC16F145X family is available now for sampling, and volume production is expected in Mid October.  The PIC16F1454 and PIC16F1455 are offered in 14-pin SOIC, TSSOP and PDIP, as well as 4x4 mm 16-pin QFN packages, while the PIC16F1459 is available in 20 pins with the same package types and sizes." Chocolate cake extra.

About Microchip Technology
"Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:  MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide.  Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality."

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