Microchip Technology Introduces dsPICDEM(TM) Buck Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Development Board.

Board Comes With Software and Hands-On Exercises to Help Designers Quickly Evaluate and Develop Digital SMPS and Other Power-Conversion Products

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the dsPICDEM[TM] Buck Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Development Board (Part # DM300023), which comes with sample software and exercises to help designers quickly evaluate and develop digital SMPS and power-conversion products. The new board is populated with a dsPIC30F2020 Digital Signal Controller (DSC), and is supported by Microchip's world-class development tools, as well as a series of educational WebSeminars on digital SMPS-related topics (www.microchip.com/training).

"This new board and supporting development tools enable designers to enjoy the performance, cost, reliability and time-to-market advantages associated with digital power- conversion applications today," said Sumit Mitra, vice president of Microchip's Digital Signal Controller Division. "Microchip is pleased to partner with power-supply designers in this way, and we hope to help them achieve their goals for their next-generation power-supply products."

The dsPIC30F2020 DSC on the new board implements two of four possible independent, synchronous Buck converter circuits to allow designers to examine digital-power control techniques, as well as application performance indicators such as transient response. Onboard user potentiometers enable simulation of application features such as trim, remote-voltage sense, voltage tracking and current sharing. Additionally, a CD that includes hands-on digital power-conversion training exercises and example Buck-converter software comes with the board, to help designers quickly adapt digital power to their designs.

Designers wanting to learn more about SMPS designs and digital power-conversion can view Microchip's eight online WebSeminars, on topics ranging from SMPS theory, to digital-SMPS design, to designing with the dsPIC([R]) DSCs in SMPS and digital power-conversion applications. The WebSeminars quickly educate designers on the technical aspects of digital power conversion and SMPSs, and are hosted on Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/training. They are an excellent complement to the tools and resources found at Microchip's Intelligent Power Supply Design Center (www.microchip.com/power).

Development Tools

To support development using the dsPICDEM Buck SMPS Development Board, Microchip offers its high-performance MPLAB IDE Integrated Development Environment, MPLAB C30 C Compiler, SIM 30 Software Simulator, MPLAB ICD2 In-Circuit Debugger, and the recently announced MPLAB REAL ICE[TM] emulation system. The MPLAB IDE is available for free from Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/MPLAB. The MPLAB ICD2 In-Circuit Debugger, MPLAB C30 C Compiler, SIM 30 Software Simulator and MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system can all be purchased online at www.microchipdirect.com.

Availability and Pricing

The dsPICDEM Buck SMPS Development Board (Part # DM300023) is priced at $149.99 each, but is being offered at an introductory price of only $99 until December 20 (use promotional code SMPS99). The board can be ordered today at www.microchipdirect.com.

Additionally, supporting the dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F2020/2023 DSCs are 28- and 80-pin dsPICDEM starter boards (Part #s DM300017, DM300019, respectively), as well as a 44- to 80-pin dsPIC30F2023 plug-in-module (PIM). All are available at www.microchipdirect.com today, with the starter boards priced at $79 each and the PIM at $25 each.

Samples of the dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F2020/2023 (dsPIC30F202X) DSCs for SMPS and digital power conversion applications are available today at http://sample.microchip.com. The devices can be purchased at www.microchipdirect.com starting at $2.99 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The dsPIC30F1010 is available in 28-pin SOIC, SPDIP and QFN packages; the dsPIC30F2020 in 28-pin SOIC, SPDIP and QFN packages; and the dsPIC30F2023 in 44-pin TQFP and QFN packages.

For additional information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/power.

Microchip Customer Support

Microchip is committed to supporting its customers by helping design engineers develop products faster and more efficiently. Customers can access four main service areas at www.microchip.com. The Support area provides a fast way to get questions answered; the Sample area offers free evaluation samples of any Microchip device; microchipDIRECT provides 24-hour pricing, ordering, inventory and credit for convenient purchasing of all Microchip devices and development tools; finally, the Training area educates customers through WebSeminars, sign-ups for local seminar and workshop courses, and information about the annual MASTERs events held throughout the world.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, dsPIC and MPLAB are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. dsPICDEM and REAL ICE are trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

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