In the era of rapidly advancing technology, the demand for more efficient, smaller, and low-power microcontrollers is ever-growing. As data collection and transmission from cloud-connected edge nodes continue to surge, there is a need for robust solutions that can keep up with the increasing data rates while maintaining efficiency. Microchip Technology Inc. has taken a significant step forward by introducing its PIC18-Q20 family of microcontrollers (MCUs), a groundbreaking series that brings together low pin-count design, I3C support, and Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO). In this article, we delve into the features and applications of these innovative MCUs that are set to lead the way in the world of embedded systems.
Microchip’s PIC18-Q20 MCU Family
Microchip’s PIC18-Q20 MCUs are at the forefront of I3C integration, making them the industry’s first low pin count MCUs equipped with up to two I3C peripherals and Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO). These MCUs come in compact 14- and 20-pin packages, some as small as 3 x 3 mm. They are purpose-built for real-time control, touch sensing, and connectivity applications. The PIC18-Q20 MCUs offer an array of configurable peripherals, advanced communication interfaces, and the ability to connect seamlessly across multiple voltage domains without the need for external components.
Versatile Applications and System Integration
One of the standout features of the PIC18-Q20 MCUs is their suitability for use alongside a primary MCU in a larger system. These MCUs excel at tasks like processing sensor data, handling low latency interrupts, and reporting system status more efficiently than the primary MCU. They operate at three independent voltage domains, with the I3C peripheral functioning between 1.0 and 3.6V. This makes them a prime choice for a wide range of space-sensitive applications and markets, including automotive, industrial control, computing, consumer electronics, IoT, and medical devices.
I3C: The Game-Changer
Compared to its predecessor, I2C, I3C is a game-changer. It offers higher communication rates and lower power consumption while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy systems. As the market continues to demand higher performance solutions with lower power and smaller form factors, I3C empowers designers and software developers to meet these challenging requirements.
Efficiency and Cost Savings
The combination of I3C and MVIO functionality with Microchip’s configurable Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) provides a significant advantage. It results in lower system costs, reduced design complexity, and a reduction in board space by eliminating the need for external level shifters with on-chip multiple voltage domains. This level of efficiency contributes to the broader goal of creating high-performance, low-power embedded systems in a smaller footprint.
FEATURES
- C compiler-optimized RISC architecture
- Operating speed
- DC – 64MHz clock input
- 62.5ns minimum instruction cycle
- Four Direct Memory Access (DMA) controllers
- Vectored interrupt capability
- 128-level deep hardware stack
- Low-current Power-on Reset (POR)
- Configurable Power-up Timer (PWRT)
- Brown-out Reset (BOR)
- Low-power BOR (LPBOR) option
- Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT)
- Operating characteristics
- Operating voltage range (VDD) of –1.8V to 5.5V
- Multi-voltage I/O (MVIO) Range (VDDIO2 and VDDIO3) of –1.62V to 5.5V (3.63V with I3C enabled)
- Temperature range
- Industrial: -40°C to 85°C
- Extended: -40°C to 125°C
- Memory
- Up to 64KB of program Flash memory
- Up to 4KB of data SRAM memory
- 256bytes data EEPROM
- Memory access partition: The program Flash memory can be partitioned into
- Application block
- Boot block
- Storage Area Flash (SAF) block
- Programmable code protection and write protection
- Device Information Area (DIA) stores
- Temperature indicator factory calibrated data
- Fixed Voltage Reference (FVR) measurement data
- Microchip unique identifier
- Device Characteristics Information (DCI) area stores
- Program/erase row sizes
- Pin count details
- EEPROM size
- Direct, indirect, and relative addressing modes
- Power-saving functionality
- Doze: CPU and peripherals running at different cycle rates (CPU Is typically slower)
- Idle: CPU halted while peripherals operate
- Sleep: Lowest power consumption
- Peripheral Module Disable (PMD)
- Low-power mode features
- Sleep: < 1µA typical @ 3V
- Operating current is 48µA @ 32kHz, 3V, typical
- Digital peripherals
- Two 16-bit Pulse-Width Modulators (PWM)
- Two 16-bit timers (TMR0/1)
- Two 8-bit timers (TMR2/4) with Hardware Limit Timer (HLT)
- Two 16-bit universal timers (TU16A/16B)
- Four Configurable Logic Cells (CLC)
- One Complimentary Waveform Generator (CWG)
- Two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules
- Programmable CRC with memory scan
- Two UART modules
- One SPI module
- One I2C module, SMBus, PMBus™ compatible
- Up to two I3C modules
- One signal-routing port module
- Peripheral Pin Select (PPS)
- Analog peripherals
- 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with computation (ADCC)
- Voltage reference
- Clocking structure
- High-precision internal oscillator block (HFINTOSC)
- 32kHz Low-Power Internal Oscillator (LFINTOSC)
- External 32kHz Crystal Oscillator (SOSC)
- External high-frequency oscillator block
- Fail-safe clock monitor
- Oscillator Start-up Timer (OST)
- Programming/debug features
- In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™) via two pins
- In-circuit debug (ICD) with Three Breakpoints via two pins
- Debug integrated on-chip
Block Diagram
Full Development Ecosystem
The PIC18-Q20 MCU family is supported by Microchip’s extensive development ecosystem, featuring hardware and software tools such as MPLAB X and MPLAB Xpress Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC). This user-friendly development environment simplifies the implementation and generation of code, leading to reduced development time and financial investment.
Get Started with Microchip’s PIC18F16Q20 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit
For developers looking to get started quickly and evaluate I3C and MVIO capabilities, Microchip offers the PIC18F16Q20 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit. This compact, cost-effective development board is ideal for rapid prototyping and will help you explore the full potential of these innovative MCUs.
Microchip’s PIC18-Q20 family of MCUs is set to revolutionize the world of embedded systems, offering a powerful blend of I3C support, MVIO functionality, and an ecosystem of tools that simplifies development. As the demand for smaller, more efficient, and low-power microcontrollers continues to grow, these MCUs are poised to lead the way into a new era of embedded technology.
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