Microchip expands 8-pin family

BANGALORE, INDIA:Microchip Technology Inc., a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has recently announced a new member of its popular 8- and 14-pin PIC16F61X 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) family, targeting cost-effective general-purpose applications.

The PIC12F617 MCU features 3.5 kB of self-programmable Flash program memory, and peripherals such as a 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), comparator, Pulse-Width Modulator (PWM) and VREF for closed-loop-control applications - all in a miniature 3 mm x 3 mm DFN package.

The new MCU provides an excellent migration path for customers using previous-generation 8-pin PIC MCUs who wish to upgrade to a larger-memory, more peripheral-rich MCU for future designs.

The PIC12F617 MCU provides 3.5 kB of Flash programmable memory with a self read-write capability. This serves as a low-cost alternative to data EEPROM and is useful when an application requires remote updates, or the ability to store system data or look-up tables.

The microcontroller features an 8 MHz internal oscillator, an on-chip 4-channel 10-bit ADC, a comparator with hysteresis and a PWM with complementary outputs that provide a framework for applications such as LED lighting control, motor control, capacitive touch keys and system monitors.

Along with this new product introduction, Microchip also announced a price reduction on the rest of the PIC16F61X family members, including the PIC12F609, PIC12F615, PIC16F610, PIC16F616 MCUs, and their corresponding high-voltage variants.

"Engineers often want to add more features and functionality to their design without having to drastically alter their design," said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip's Security, Microcontroller and Technology Development Division. "The PIC12F617 MCU provides engineers with more features, such as self-programmable Flash, while maintaining pin compatibility with Microchip's more than 20 other 8-pin PIC12 MCUs," Drehobl added.