32-bit MCUs integrate hardware security module

Microchip Technology Inc. offers a new family of PIC32CZ CA 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), providing designers with an easy path to integrate security functionality into their devices. The PIC32CZ CA 32-bit MCUs feature a 300-MHz Arm Cortex-M7 processor, an integrated hardware security module (HSM) and a wide range of connectivity and Flash memory options, targeting industrial and consumer applications.

(Source: Microchip Technology Inc.)

The PIC32CZ CA devices include the PIC32CZ CA90 with an integrated HSM and the PIC32CZ CA80 without the integrated HSM. The HSM is a monolithic solution that provides advanced security, operating as a secure subsystem with a separate MCU on board. The MCU runs firmware and security features including hardware secure boot, key storage, cryptographic acceleration and true random number generator.

When additional security is necessary, factory provisioning is available on the PIC32CZ CA90 so that the devices are ready to be deployed. Microchip’s Trust Platform Development Suite, an in-house secure provisioning tool, enables a secure supply chain channel at scale or in low-volume production.

The PIC32CZ CA MCUs are configurable using such connectivity options as USART/UART, I²C, SPI, CAN FD, high-speed USB and Gigabit Ethernet. The Ethernet option includes Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) based on the IEEE 1588 standard. Users can expand functionality through Arduino Uno R3, Mikroe Bus or Xplained Pro compatible expansion boards. The devices are scalable with 2, 4 or 8 MB of on-board Flash, 1 MB of SRAM and error correction code (ECC) memory to mitigate data corruption.

Both devices are available now. The PIC32CZ CA80 is priced at $14.80 each and the PIC32CZ CA90 is available for $15.54 each, both in quantities of 10,000. The devices are supported by the PIC32CZ CA90 Curiosity Ultra Development Board, the PIC32CZ CA80 Curiosity Ultra Development Board and MPLAB Harmony v3 for testing, programming and debugging in the design phase.