CHANDLER, Ariz., [NASDAQ: MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc. announces that, with the addition of a new low-cost family member with integrated USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) functionality—and by bringing the first seven general-purpose members to volume production—the PIC32 family now provides customers with 12 options to solve their growing requirements for more performance, more memory and advanced USB OTG connectivity. Additionally, Microchip now offers 37 USB PIC® microcontrollers in 8-, 16- and 32-bit varieties, from a 28-pin PIC18 to a 100-pin, 80 MHz PIC32. While the PIC32 family brings more performance and memory to embedded designers, it maintains pin, peripheral and software compatibility with Microchip’s 16-bit microcontroller and DSC families. To further ease migration and protect tool investments, Microchip’s is the only complete portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit devices to be supported by a single Integrated Development Environment—the free MPLAB® IDE.
Consumers’ desire for more engaging, easy-to-use and upgradable products is driving embedded designers to add the latest USB OTG capabilities. Some products, such as PCs, operate only in a host role, whereas others—for example, USB Flash drives—operate only as devices. Products with OTG functionality can operate in either role—even auto negotiating which will be the USB embedded host or device when encountering another OTG product. The PIC32 microcontrollers with integrated USB OTG provide designers with the flexibility to add all three modes of USB operation to their products. Additionally, all PIC32 USB OTG family members feature a USB OTG PHY, enabling even lower BOM costs and smaller PCB real estate.
Example Applications
The PIC32 family of microcontrollers is targeted at a wide variety of embedded applications, including the following examples: Industrial (security systems, power meters, smart-card/bar-code/access readers, instrumentation); Medical (patient monitors, dosing pumps, blood analyzers); Automotive (vehicle dataloggers, radios, tachometers, vehicle tracking); Communication (power-line communication boards, media network controllers, GSM back-up controllers); Appliance (coffee makers, washing machines, fitness equipment, dishwashers, HVAC); and Consumer (GPS modules, home automation, MP3-player interfaces/adaptors).
Development Tools and Software Support
All PIC32 family products are supported by Microchip’s world-class development tools, including the MPLAB IDE, the MPLAB C32 C compiler, the MPLAB REAL ICE™ emulation system, the MPLAB ICD 2 in-circuit debugger, and the MPLAB PM3 universal device programmer.
Microchip also provides free source code for USB software stacks and class drivers to enable designers to get a head start on the development of their USB applications. Microchip’s free USB Host Stack, Device Stack, and Class Drivers (HID, MSD, CDC, Custom) are available at www.microchip.com/pic32libraries. The free USB OTG Stack is currently in beta evaluation, with full release scheduled for the second quarter of 2008.
The PIC32 family enjoys broad tool support throughout the industry. Complete tool chains are available from Ashling, Green Hills, Hi-Tech and Lauterbach—including C and C++ compilers, IDEs and debuggers. RTOS support is available from CMX, Express Logic, FreeRTOS, Micrium, Segger and Pumpkin. Graphics tools providers include EasyGUI, Segger, RamTeX and Micrium. A full list of third-party support for the PIC32 family can be found at www.microchip.com/PIC32.
USB Starter Board and Development Platforms
The PIC32 USB Starter Board has the same form factor and expandability as the general-purpose board included in the previously announced PIC32 Starter Kit. The PIC32 USB Starter Board is a low-cost entry point into high-performance USB host, device and OTG development. Complementing the PIC32 USB Starter Board is a suite of free, downloadable tools (including the MPLAB IDE and MPLAB C32 C Compiler Student Edition); free software (USB host, device and OTG stacks, and class driver source code); and documentation (application notes, data sheets and a family reference manual). Application expansion boards are also being made available, which plug into the expansion slot on the bottom of the Starter Board. The low-cost PIC32 USB Starter Board (part # DM320003) is available at www.microchipdirect.com.
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Filed Under: Microprocessors, ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL