Automotive Distributed Intelligence Accelerates With PICmicro LIN Transceiver, Microchip Technology's First LIN Protocol Silicon Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2000

(Nasdaq:MCHP) Accelerating distributed intelligence within automobiles, Microchip Technology Inc. Monday introduced the PIC16C432 and PIC16C433 PICmicro(R) microcontroller (MCU) family with built-in LIN (Local Interconnect Network) transceiver capabilities suitable for LIN MCU solutions.

Designed as an innovative solution to conquer new connectivity frontiers, the small footprint PIC16C432/433 LIN devices deliver increased systems integration, which supports the drive to combine more functions into fewer components and provide better reliability.

Introduced by a European automotive consortium, the LIN protocol is a low cost, short-distance, low speed network under a CAN platform designed to meet the growing worldwide demand among automobile customers for new features, advanced performance and an enhanced and safer driving experience.

With distributed intelligence becoming a dominant trend in the automotive industry, the LIN protocol was created as a low cost standard for vehicle networks to connect various automotive subsystems.

The LIN standard includes the specification of the transmission protocol, the transmission medium, the interface between development tools and the interfaces for software programming.

As a serial communications protocol, LIN efficiently supports the control of mechatronic nodes in distributed automotive applications with a domain of class-A multiplex buses that provide a single master node and a set of slave nodes.

The primary properties of LIN are: single-master/multiple-slave concept; low cost silicon implementation based on common UART/SCI interface; hardware with a software equivalent, or as a pure state machine; self synchronization without a quartz or ceramic resonator in the slave nodes; guaranteed latency time for signal transmission; low cost single-wire implementation; and a speed of up to 20kbit/s.

The LIN concept is different from the CAN protocol in that LIN provides a multiplex communication concept below the cost and performance level of CAN. The specification of the line driver/receiver follows the ISO 9141 standard, but features additional enhancements.

Besides serving as a new communication standard in the automotive industry, the LIN protocol is a cost-effective small form factor solution for distributed embedded solutions that also improves reliability. Typical automotive applications for the PIC16C432/433 focus on body control functions such as door, window, wiper, mirror, seat and sunroof systems.

With a proven architecture, the PIC16C432/433 offers high performance with 2K words of OTP program memory, 128 bytes of data RAM and require only 35 powerful single-cycle instructions, each 14 bits wide, with the exception of two-cycle program branches.

With the MCU and the LIN transceiver functioning within small 18-pin and 20-pin packages, the number of external components required is minimized, thereby yielding higher systems reliability. Featuring a four-channel, 8-bit A/D converter, the devices provide an effective interface to the analog world.

Other on-chip peripherals feature an 8-bit real time clock/counter with 8-bit programmable prescaler, wake-up on bus activity and require only 12 volt battery operation for the transceiver.

Special MCU features include Microchip's In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP(TM)), power-on reset (POR), power-up timer (PWRT), oscillator start-up timer (OST), power saving SLEEP mode, selectable oscillator options and a watchdog timer (WDT) with its own on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation. The PIC16C432 offers a brown-out reset function.

Microchip also offers a full suite of development tools to lower development cost while increasing development efficiency and reducing time to market. A LIN Protocol Developer's Kit is scheduled to be released early 2001.

Microchip's website also offers Application Note 729 "LIN Protocol Specification Implementation with PICmicro(R) Microcontrollers," which describes the bus protocol and its implementation in automotive electronics subsystems and can be found at http://www.microchip.com.

Pricing in 10,000-unit quantities for the PIC16C432-I/SS is $2.46 each and for the PIC16C433-I/SO is $2.31 each. Engineering samples will be available the first quarter of 2001. Volume quantities are scheduled for second quarter of 2001. For more information, contact Microchip's Literature Line at 480/786-7668 or contact any authorized Microchip distributor around the world.

Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the widely popular PICmicro(R) RISC microcontrollers which serve 8- and 16-bit embedded control applications.

Specializing in field-programmable and mixed-signal solutions, the company also offers complementary microperipheral products including stand-alone analog, interface and microID(TM) RFID devices; serial EEPROMs; and the patented KEELOQ(R) security devices.

This synergistic product portfolio targets thousands of applications and a growing demand for high-performance designs in the automotive, communications, computing, consumer and industrial control markets.

The company's quality systems are ISO 9001 (1994 version) and QS9000 (1998 version) certified. Microchip is headquartered near Phoenix in Chandler, with semiconductor fabrication facilities in Arizona and Washington and assembly and test operations near Bangkok, Thailand. Microchip employs approximately 3,100 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, PIC, PICmicro and KEELOQ are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the United States and other countries.

microID, Migratable Memory, ICSP and In-Circuit Serial Programming are trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the United States and other countries. I2C is a trademark of Phiklips. SPI is a trademark of Motorola. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.