Microchip 8-bit MCU Family Overview

Overview

Baseline 8-bit PIC MCUs (PIC10, PIC12, PIC16)

PIC microcontrollers are finding their way into new applications like smart phones, audio accessories,video gaming peripherals and advanced medical devices. Microchip provides solutions for the entire performance range of 8-bit microcontrollers, with easy-to-use development tools, complete technical documentation and post design-in support through a global sales and distribution network.The 8-bit family power management features mean it can be used in many power sensitive applications. Active current consumption as low as 35 uA/MHz; sleep currents as small as 9nA for long standby times and battery life as long as 20 years coupled with flexible power and wake up modes,peripheral operation down to 1.8V.

A positive feature of this family is its ability to reuse code because of its common architecture and pin compatibility ascending through the family. It also has a wide range of integrated peripherals to choose from within the range of – currently – 325 devices. When it comes to display and HID devices, the family provides a range of options to drive segmented LCDs, and capacitive touch buttons. Microchip is known for its development tools, and they started with this family. A range of free IDEs and C compilers gets you writing code for your 8-bit PIC project straightaway.

Mid-Range 8-bit PIC MCUs (PIC12, PIC16)

Mid-Range PIC Microcontrollers are the next tier in performance and features from Microchip’s Baseline PIC microcontrollers. Utilizing a 14-bit instruction word, these peripheral-rich devices are ideal for multi-dimensional applications that require a higher level of embedded control, yet with only 35 instructions to learn, achieving optimum system performance remains straightforward. This family features an instruction set consisting of just 35 (14-bit wide) instructions, 8K word (or 14KB) of addressable program memory, 46 bytes of RAM (maximum), 8 level hardware stack, 1 (9-bit) file select register, hardware interrupt handling, and a highly integrated feature set including EEPROM, LCD, mTouch sensing solutions and serial communications.

Microchip Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit PIC MCUs (PIC12FXXX, PIC16F1XX)

Microchip continues to invest in its 8-bit PIC Microcontroller line to provide a broad product portfolio that meets the needs of existing and future costumers. The new Enhanced Mid-Range core builds upon the best elements of the Mid-Range core and provides additional performance, while maintaining compatibility with Mid-Range PIC MCUs for true product migration.

This family features an instruction set consisting of 49 (14-bit wide) instructions, 32K word (or 56KB) of addressable program memory, 4K of RAM (maximum), 16 level hardware stack, 2 (16-bit) file select registers, hardware interrupt handling with content save, and an advanced feature set, multiple serial communications and motor control capability.

Microchip PIC18 8-bit PIC MCUs

The PIC18 family combines the maximum level of performance and integration with the ease-of-use of an 8-bit architecture. With up to 16 MIPS of processing power, PIC18 Microcontrollers feature advanced peripherals, such as CAN, USB, Ethernet, LCD and CTMU. The family is split into two – the PIC18 “J” series, which is deigned for high memory density, cost sensitive applications, and the PIC18 “J” series, providing the highest performance with benchmark nanoWatt XLP extremely low power consumption. This family features an instruction set consisting of 83 (16-bit wide) powerful, C optimised instructions, up to 2MB addressable program memory, 4K of RAM (maximum), 32 level hardware stack, 1 (8-bit) file select register, integrated 8x8 hardware multiply, high performance 8-bit architecture.