Cost-Effective Flash PICmicro MCUs Break 1 Megabit Barrier, Increasing Flexibility Solutions for Complex Applications.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002

Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP) Tuesday announced the first PICmicro(R) Flash microcontrollers to break the 1 Megabit memory barrier.

Designed for high-end applications requiring a complex user interface, the PIC18F6X20 and PIC18F8X20 offer the flexibility of field self-programmability, a larger memory and data arrays for text storage, a higher pin count and the most feature-rich peripheral set the company has produced to date.

The PIC18F6X20 and PIC18F8X20 are the first four devices in a series of large memory microcontrollers providing cost-effective solutions for high-end applications across industrial, computing, telecommunications and consumer products.

Microchip's growing PIC18 Flash microcontroller family features socket, software and peripheral compatibility, providing the most flexibility for complex embedded designs.

"These devices, based on the PIC18 architecture and innovative PEEC process technology, provide engineers with a simple, cost-effective solution for complex applications," said Ron Cates, product marketing manager for Microchip.

"Engineers continue to use the PICmicro(R) solution because it provides the technical specs they need at a competitive price, and it enables design adaptability and self-programmability for a significant competitive edge in today's business environment."

The devices are supported on Microchip's advanced PEEC Flash process technology which eliminates the traditional industry design barriers associated with Flash microcontrollers, including price premiums, endurance, reliability, and long programming times.

The programming time of the PIC18F6X20 and PIC18F8X20 is optimized so that a 1-Megabit array can be fully erased and programmed in less than 2 seconds. An individual word can be erased and programmed in less than 3 milliseconds. The devices are specified for more than 1,000,000 data memory ERASE/WRITE cycles and more than 100,000 programmemory ERASE/WRITE cycles with 40 years of data retention.

The PIC18F6620 and PIC18F8620 feature 64K bytes of Flash memory and the PIC18F6720 and PIC18F8720 feature 128K bytes (1 Megabit) of Flash memory; each provides 1024 bytes of EEPROM data memory. The PIC18F8620 and PIC18F8720 also have linear address capability up to 2 Mbytes.

With up to 128K bytes of Flash memory, these devices are ideal for engineers who program in C, require an RTOS or use communications protocol stack such as TCP/IP.

The feature-rich peripheral set includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with up to 16 channels x 10-bit resolution, 5 Capture/Compare/PWM modules, up to 10 MIPS performance at 40 MHz, two 8-bit timers and three 16-bit timers, dual analog comparators and a Parallel Slave Port (PSP).

Additional features include an operating voltage range of 2.0-5.5 volts, programmable brown-out detection/reset (PBOR), a watch-dog timer (WDT), programmable 16-level Low Voltage Detection module (PLVD), 32 kHz secondary oscillator clock input and a 4x Phase Lock Loop (PLL). Serial I/O features include SPI(TM), I2C(TM), and two addressable USART modules supporting RS485 and RS232.

The cost-effective devices are an ideal solution for a wide range of high-end applications requiring additional memory, such as industrial (motor control, cable modems, ballast control), computing (TCP/IP controller, POS terminal, voice/fax board), telecommunications (Internet appliances, GPS units), and consumer (MP3 players, security systems, high-end thermostats) markets.

Featuring In-Circuit Serial Programming(TM) (ICSP(TM)), Microchip's PICmicro Flash devices allow the microcontrollers to be programmed after being placed in a circuit board. This offers tremendous flexibility, reduces development time and manufacturing cycles and improves time to market.

ICSP enables reduced cost of field upgrades, system calibration during manufacturing and the addition of unique identification codes to the system and calibration of system in the field. The devices also support self-programming over the operating voltage range so that the user can program the device in-circuit at the user's operating voltage.

Microchip's MPLAB ICD development tool is a powerful, low-cost run-time tool that offers cost-effective in-circuit Flash programming and debugging from the graphical user interface of the MPLAB IDE tool. This enables a designer to develop and debug source code by watching variables, single-stepping and setting break points. Running at full speed enables testing hardware in real-time.

Available in 64- and 80-lead TQFP packages, pricing in a 10,000-unit quantity is $7.94 for the PIC18F6620, $8.82 for the PIC18F6720, $8.05 for the PIC18F8620 and $8.96 for the PIC18F8720. Samples are expected to be available in April 2002 with volume shipments planned for May 2002.

For additional information or pricing on these devices, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor or visit www.microchip.com.

Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the popular PICmicro(R) field-programmable RISC microcontrollers, which serve 8- and 16-bit embedded control applications, and a broad spectrum of high-performance linear and mixed-signal, power management and thermal management devices.

The company also offers complementary microperipheral products including interface devices; 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 in Chandler with design facilities in Mountain View, Calif. and Bangalore, India; semiconductor fabrication facilities in Tempe and Chandler, Ariz. and Puyallup, Wash.; and assembly and test operations near Bangkok, Thailand.

Microchip employs approximately 2,950 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas. More information on the company can be found at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, PIC, PICmicro, MPLAB and KEELOQ are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the United States and other countries. microID, ICSP and In-Circuit Serial Programming are trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the United States and other countries. I2C is a trademark of Philips Corp. SPI is a registered trademark of Motorola. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.