Microchip Technology 32-bit MCU families

Microchip Technology has released three new families of microcontrollers that provide up to 128 KB of RAM and various connectivity options, including 10/100 Mbps ethernet, two CAN2.0b controllers, USB host, device and OTG, and six UART, five I²C and four SPI ports.

The families are complemented by the company’s free software stacks, available in source-code form.

The PIC32MX5/6/7 families are designed specifically for data-intensive applications. Designers have full access to up to 128 KB of RAM for simultaneous use with the ethernet, USB and CAN buffers. The integrated ethernet, CAN and USB modules have a built-in DMA interface to maximise data throughput.

The families couple the PIC32’s performance with connectivity features and all the integrated RAM needed for running multiple software stacks.

The integrated 100 Mbps ethernet MAC uses an RMII/MIII interface to low-cost, commodity physical interface chips (PHYs). Additionally, each MCU has a unique, factory-preprogrammed ethernet MAC address, which simplifies manufacturing.

Flexible, easy-to-use CAN2.0b controllers have been added to the PIC32, which uses system RAM for storing up to 1024 messages in 32 buffers. Filtering capabilities include user-selectable, filter-to-buffer mapping with 32 filters and four filter masks. All these functions allow designers to adapt CAN communication schemes to their applications.

The company offers free TCP/IP and USB software stacks, including full source code, to further enable software development.

Available software includes two TCP/IP software stacks, along with libraries for USB host and device, advanced encryption standard, multiple file systems, advanced graphics, audio, and many other software products.

Example applications for the families include: communications (point-of-sale terminals, web servers, CAN-to-ethernet-to-USB bridges); industrial/medical (automation, controllers, medical devices, security monitoring); consumer/appliance (audio, MP3 decoders, displays, small appliances, fitness equipment); motor vehicle (aftermarket, car alarms, GPS).