Microchip expands CAN microcontroller portfolio

BANGALORE, INDIA: Microchip Technology Inc., a provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, announced on Wednesday the launch of PIC18F “K80” 8-bit CAN microcontrollers (MCUs) featuring 1.8—5.5V operation and eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology.

Microchip said XPL would ensure the industry’s lowest sleep current consumption of less than 20 nA.

It said the new MCUs also feature an on-chip 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a peripheral that enables mTouch capacitive touch-sensing user interfaces.

They are ideal for applications in the automotive (e.g. body control modules, automotive lighting, door/seat/steering/window control, HVAC control), building automation (e.g. elevators and escalators, Lighting and sensors, air condition control) and industrial markets (e.g. security systems, alarm control, remote monitors), said a press release.

Microchip said manufacturers are under intense pressure to cut costs while delivering more sophisticated products. The PIC18F K80 CAN MCU family enables smaller, more cost-effective and robust control with its integrated CAN peripheral for automotive and industrial applications.

For applications that require low power and accuracy, the MCUs deliver best-in-industry current ratings for longer battery life, as well as the on-chip 12-bit ADC and touch-sensing peripheral for advanced sensors, it claimed.

“The PIC18F K80 family was developed for designers who need to add cost-effective CAN communication to their applications with extremely low power sleep and active modes, and robust operation up to 5.5 Volts,” said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division.

He added that the new MCUs offer a migration path for Microchip's PIC18F4680 CAN family, serving a wide spectrum of applications.