Microchip adds analog capability to PIC and AVR microcontrollers

Addressing the challenge of sensor-based IoT systems that combine analog functionality and digital control capability, Microchip Technology Inc. has introduced the first PIC and AVR microcontrollers (MCUs) that combine advanced analog peripherals and multi-voltage operation with inter-peripheral connections.

Delivering both increased system integration and reduced signal acquisition times, the PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB MCU families “offer the convenience and efficiency of operating in a single design environment,” said Microchip. This allows designers to “use the MCUs as a single-chip controller, or as an intelligent analog signal conditioning component in a larger system,” said Greg Robinson, associate vice president of marketing for Microchip’s 8-bit microcontroller business unit.

For signal conditioning in space-constrained sensing and measuring applications such as IoT end nodes and industrial, medical devices, wearables, automotive, and lighting systems, the PIC18-Q41 MCU provides a configurable operational amplifier (op amp), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with computation, and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). The PIC18-Q41 is available in compact 14- and 20-pin packages, and is a companion to Microchip’s 32-bit MCUs and other controllers that require analog integration.

It is particularly well-suited for IoT and large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) at-the-edge, including predictive maintenance edge nodes in a smart factory, said Microchip.

Suited for mixed-signal IoT systems that often use multiple power domains, the AVR DB MCU simplifies these design challenges while reducing cost in a range of applications including automotive, appliances, HVAC, and liquid measurement by integrating true bi-directional level shifters. The addition of three independent and highly configurable op amps, a 12-bit differential ADC, a 10-bit DAC, three zero cross detectors, and core independent peripherals (CIPs) makes the AVR DB MCU suited for virtually any application involving analog signal conditioning and processing functions, said Microchip.

The new products are supported by Microchip’s MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), and the MPLAB Mindi Analog Simulator. MCC is a free software plug-in that provides a graphical interface to configure peripherals and functions specific to an application.

The AVR DB also is supported by Atmel START, Atmel Studio, and third-party tools such as IAR and the GCC C compiler. MCC and START help analog and digital designers easily configure an op amp system for various typical use cases through a graphical user interface with no coding required.

Both MCU families offer a development board with programming and debugging capabilities: the PIC18F16Q41 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit (EV26Q64A) and the AVR DB Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit (EV35L43A). Quick start guides for the PIC MCU and the AVR MCU are available to start projects immediately.

Available in a range of memory sizes, packages and price points, pricing for the PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB  starts at $0.65 and $0.95, respectively, in quantities of 10,000. Devices and kits can be purchased at Microchip’s purchasing portal or an authorized distributor.