Microchip Technology Introduces World's First 16-bit Microcontrollers

The new PIC24FJ64GA002 microcontroller provides more onboard memory than any other 28-pin packaged 16-bit microcontroller. The entire PIC24FJ64GA004 family allows the flexible use of all onboard peripherals, by enabling designers to map them to the pin they desire through the "Peripheral Pin Select" pin-mapping function.

Design engineers are adding functions in software to even the smallest microcontrollers, driving the demand for higher performance and larger memory in low pin count packages-to better address cost- and space-constrained applications. The PIC24FJ64GA004 family's industry-leading memory densities, in packages as small as a 6x6 mm QFN, address these design concerns.

However, engineers still require a broad range of peripheral combinations within these low pin count packages. The PIC24FJ64GA004 family contains a similar peripheral set to the 100-pin PIC24FJ128GA family, in a package as small as 28 pins. Through Peripheral Pin Select, Microchip enables designers to use the available pins in the exact manner they like. This flexibility provides engineers with the option to use a smaller, more cost-effective microcontroller.

"Microchip's latest 16-bit PIC® microcontrollers allow customers with space-constrained applications that have large amounts of code to utilize our cost-effective PIC24F family," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. "These are the industry's only 16-bit microcontrollers that enable designers to utilize smaller packages without sacrificing peripheral versatility."

The PIC24FJ64GA004 family is designed to meet a wide range of design engineering needs across a broad spectrum of industries. Specific application examples include: consumer (security systems, heating control, audio equipment); automotive (body control, steering systems); instrumentation/measurement (scales, medical instruments and monitoring); industrial (building monitor-and-control systems, security/access systems, sensors).

In addition to Peripheral Pin Select, this new PIC24F family features two independent channels of I2C, UART and SPI communications. These channels allow the microcontrollers to communicate to a number of devices over multiple protocols, for easier system design. Additionally, the PIC24FJ64GA004 family is designed for an easy transition to other members in the PIC24F family and for migration to other families in Microchip's 16-bit portfolio, including the PIC24H and dsPIC33 families, through code compatibility. This compatibility enables the seamless migration from a 16 MIPS PIC24F microcontroller all the way to a 40 MIPS dsPIC33 digital signal controller - Design engineers are adding functions in software to even the smallest microcontrollers, driving the demand for higher performance and larger memory in low pin count packages-to better address cost- and space-constrained applications. The PIC24FJ64GA004 family's industry-leading memory densities, in packages as small as a 6x6 mm QFN, address these design concerns.

However, engineers still require a broad range of peripheral combinations within these low pin count packages. The PIC24FJ64GA004 family contains a similar peripheral set to the 100-pin PIC24FJ128GA family, in a package as small as 28 pins. Through Peripheral Pin Select, Microchip enables designers to use the available pins in the exact manner they like. This flexibility provides engineers with the option to use a smaller, more cost-effective microcontroller.

"Microchip's latest 16-bit PIC® microcontrollers allow customers with space-constrained applications that have large amounts of code to utilize our cost-effective PIC24F family," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. "These are the industry's only 16-bit microcontrollers that enable designers to utilize smaller packages without sacrificing peripheral versatility."

The PIC24FJ64GA004 family is designed to meet a wide range of design engineering needs across a broad spectrum of industries. Specific application examples include: consumer (security systems, heating control, audio equipment); automotive (body control, steering systems); instrumentation/measurement (scales, medical instruments and monitoring); industrial (building monitor-and-control systems, security/access systems, sensors).

In addition to Peripheral Pin Select, this new PIC24F family features two independent channels of I2Câ„¢, UART and SPI communications. These channels allow the microcontrollers to communicate to a number of devices over multiple protocols, for easier system design. Additionally, the PIC24FJ64GA004 family is designed for an easy transition to other members in the PIC24F family and for migration to other families in Microchip's 16-bit portfolio, including the PIC24H and dsPIC33 families, through code compatibility. This compatibility enables the seamless migration from a 16 MIPS PIC24F microcontroller all the way to a 40 MIPS dsPIC33 digital signal controller - Microchip.