DSP, Micros & Memory


Microchip enhances 8-bit MCU core

4 February 2009 DSP, Micros & Memory

Microchip has enhanced its mid-range 8-bit PIC microcontroller core architecture supporting PIC12 and PIC16 MCUs, with feature and peripheral improvements including more program and data memory; a deeper/ enhanced hardware stack; additional reset methods; 14 additional programming instructions, including ‘C’ efficiency optimisations resulting in code size reductions; increased peripheral support; and reduced interrupt latency.

The enhancements are said to provide users with a performance boost of up to 50% and code-size reductions of up to 40%. Peripheral support includes Microchip’s mTouch module for touch-sensing user interfaces; LCD displays; multiple analog-to-digital converters and pulse width modulation modules; additional timers and analog comparators.

Additional feature enhancements include increased memory support with program flash addressability up to 56 KB and data RAM up to 4 KB. With 14 additional instructions giving a total of 49, the enhanced core optimises program code and data handling, which reduces code space and increases efficiency with fewer clock cycles. It also provides the ability to migrate with minimal effort among existing mid-range PIC MCUs, as well as up or down with PIC12, PIC16 and PIC18 MCUs.



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