Microcontrollers target segmented display applications.
Press Release Summary:
Equipped with 64-128 KB Flash and 4 KB RAM, 8-bit direct LCD-drive PIC18F87J90 Series includes Real-Time Clock and Calendar, and Charge Time Measurement Unit peripheral for capacitive touch sensing or precise time measurement. With nanoWatt Technology, units help maintain system's low-power ratings, and can drive display in sleep mode to conserve power. In addition, onboard LCD module contains software-programmable contrast controller, which provides display boost or dimming.
Original Press Release:
Microchip Technology Introduces PIC18F87J90 Family: Memory Extension for 8-bit LCD PIC® Microcontrollers
Industry's First 8-bit MCUs for Segmented Display Applications with Hardware Real-Time Clock and Integrated Capacitive-Touch Peripheral
CHANDLER, Ariz., March 3, 2009 [NASDAQ: MCHP] - Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the PIC18F87J90 8-bit direct LCD-drive microcontrollers (MCUs) with nanoWatt Technology. The 64- and 80-pin devices extend the memory reach and peripheral set of Microchip's LCD MCU portfolio. They feature 64 - 128 KB Flash and 4 KB RAM, and are the industry's first 8-bit MCUs to include a Real-Time Clock and Calendar (RTCC), and Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) peripheral for capacitive touch sensing or precise time measurement. The PIC18F87J90 devices are pin compatible with Microchip's PIC18F85J90 devices, providing an easy migration path across Microchip's entire LCD-drive MCU family and simplified application upgrades.
Many designers want to enhance and add features to their display applications, such as capacitive or inductive touch user interfaces. The PIC18F87J90 products meet this need head-on, with their extended memory range and integrated peripheral set including the CTMU. With Microchip's unique nanoWatt Technology, the MCUs help maintain the system's low-power ratings, and can even drive the display in sleep mode to conserve power. Additionally, the onboard LCD module contains a software-programmable contrast controller, which provides display boost or dimming and compensates for environmental elements such as temperature and lighting. The on-chip hardware RTCC works even in sleep mode to enable real-time tracking and lower power consumption.
"Microchip's PIC18F87J90 MCUs expand our portfolio of cost-effective LCD products. For example, in electrical power meters, the extended memory, RTCC and multiple serial channels deliver a highly cost-effective feature set," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division.
Obolsky continued, "These new MCUs offer a drop-in upgrade in features and memory to our popular low-cost PIC18F85J90 LCD family, serving a wide spectrum of applications."
The PIC18F87J90 MCUs are designed for cost-sensitive embedded display applications in the consumer (white goods, game controllers, exercise equipment, thermostat and counter top appliances); industrial (home-alarm/security-system keypads, power meters, data logging and central AC communication controllers); medical (flow meters, patient monitors, laboratory instruments and home-diagnostic devices); and automotive markets (dashboard and control panels).
Development Tool Support
To get started with the PIC18F87J90 family, customers can use the PICDEM(TM) LCD 2 Demo Board (part # DM163030, $125) in combination with the PIC18F87J90 Plug-In Module (part # MA180025, $25), which includes capacitive-touch buttons. Both are available today at www.microchipdirect.com.
Additionally, the PIC18F87J90 family is supported by Microchip's standard development tool suite, including the free MPLAB® Integrated Development Environment [IDE (http://www.microchip.com/MPLAB)], the MPLAB C Compiler for PIC18 and the MPLAB ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger (part # DV164035). The MPLAB IDE now comes with the free Segmented Display GUI, which makes it easy to generate the code needed to drive LCD displays.
Device Packaging, Pricing & Availability
The PIC18F87J90 family ranges from 64 KB to 128 KB Flash program memory in 64- and 80-pin packages. Prices for the MCUs start at $2.58 in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples are available today at sample.microchip.com. Volume production quantities of each device can be ordered today at www.microchipdirect.com. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/LCD.
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 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 webinars, 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, MPLAB, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. mTouch and PICDEM are trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
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