New Microchip PIC16 New Low-Power Microcontrollers with nanoWatt Technology

CHANDLER, Ariz., March 3, 2003 – Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today introduced seven PICmicro® PIC16F Flash microcontrollers with Microchip's new nanoWatt Technology. The devices offer the flexibility of re-programmable Flash memory coupled with new power managment features, and are designed to reduce the overall power consumption in embedded systems.

Microchip's NanoWatt Technology
NanoWatt Technology is Microchip's advanced PMOS Electrically Erasable Cell (PEEC). The PEEC cell utilizes a size-reduced PMOS (Positive channel MOS) merged cell with a Fowler Nordheim tunneling region (instead of a defined tunnel dielectric window as in EEPROM cells) to improve manufacturability, repeatability, and reliability across a -40°C to 125°C temperature range and 2.0V to 5.5V Vdd operations. A 1-Megabit array can be fully erased and programmed in less than 2 seconds. An individual word can be erased and programmed in less than 3 milliseconds.

Reliability characterization data over multiple lots supports in excess of 5 million ERASE/WRITE cycles and more than 40 years of data retention. The cell is rated at 1,000,000 data memory ERASE/WRITE cycles and more than 100,000 program memory ERASE/WRITE cycles.

Low Power
The 18-pin PIC16F627A, PIC16F628A, PIC16F648A, PIC16F818, PIC16F819, PIC16F87 and PIC16F88 microcontrollers also feature a flexible clock system with three enhanced "software controlled" power-managed modes. This enables users to execute code from a real-time clock base as well as control the speed of their code execution, thus allowing better control of the overall system power consumption.

Power consumption of less than 1µA is available in standby mode. Operating voltage range is 2.0 to 5.5 volts. In addition, new enhanced features include a new fail-safe clock monitor that detects external clock failures, and also a 2-speed start-up from reset or sleep mode (upon wakeup, the core is clocked by the internal oscillator; after the core stabilizes, it then switches over to the main oscillator).

"Microchip is committed to providing designers with cost-effective, flexible power-management solutions that reduce the overall power consumption within their embedded design," said Ganesh Moorthy, Vice President of the Advanced Microcontroller and Automotive Division at Microchip. "We recently introduced a PIC18F Flash family with our nanoWatt Technology and, as promised, we have expanded our offerings with a series of mid-range core PIC16F Flash devices. The combination of low current consumption, a very wide and robust operating range, and [according to Microchip] the most reliable Flash process in the industry are benefits that are uniquely available from Microchip Technology."

Features
The PIC16F devices offer:
- up to 7K bytes Flash program memory
- up to 368 bytes RAM
- 256 bytes EEPROM memory
- 8MHz internal oscillator
- 7-channel 10-bit analog-to-digital converter
- one capture/compare/PWM module (CCP)
- two comparators
- USART supporting RS-485 and RS-232
- synchronous serial port (SSP) supporting SPI and I2C
- programmable 16-level low voltage detection module (PLVD)
- programmable brown-out reset (PBOR)

These devices target portable devices (MP3 players, glucose meters, tape recorders), intelligent sensing (smoke, leak or gas detectors, security systems, thermostats, furnace shut-off), utility metering (gas, water, and electric, data loggers), motor control (stepper, fan control, brushless DC, AC induction, switch reluctance), automobile controls (dash, door, seats) and toys.

Development Tools
Microchip's world class development tool suite includes the MPLAB® In-Circuit Debugger 2 (ICD), that offers cost-effective in-circuit Flash programming and real-time debugging from the MPLAB® Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

Price and Availability
Available today in 18-pin PDIP, 20-pin SOIC, 20-pin SSOP and 6mm x 6mm QFN packages, pricing in 10,000 unit quantities ranges from $1.30 to $2.00 each. The PIC16F648A is scheduled to be available in volume production in April 2003. For additional information or pricing on these devices, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor or visit www.microchip.com.


About Microchip Technology
Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the popular PICmicro® field-programmable RISC microcontrollers, which serve 8- and 16-bit embedded control applications, and a broad spectrum of high performance linear and mixed-signal, power management and thermal management devices. The Company also offers complementary microperipheral products including interface devices; microID® RFID devices; serial EEPROMs; and the patented KEELOQ® security devices. This synergistic product portfolio targets thousands of applications and a growing demand for high-performance designs in the automotive, communications, computing, consumer and industrial control markets. The Company's quality systems are ISO 9001 (1994 version) and QS9000 (1998 version) certified. Microchip is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona with design facilities in Mountain View, California, Bangalore, India; and a European Design Center in Lausanne, Switzerland; semiconductor fabrication facilities in Tempe and Chandler, Arizona; Gresham, Oregon; and Puyallup, Washington; and assembly and test operations near Bangkok, Thailand. Microchip employs approximately 3,350 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas.