Microchip

What if you didn't need a CPLD or FPGA for programmable logic? What if your MCU could do it all- no external components, smaller BOM, less board space, and still give you everything a CPLD would?

Introducing the PIC16F132 and PIC18-Q35- the latest additions to Microchip's growing Configurable Logic Block (CLB) product portfolio; each with an on-chip CLB peripheral that runs fully independent of the CPU, so response times are deterministic and fixed, no jitter, no variability. For automotive, industrial, and safety-critical designs where timing guarantees are non-negotiable, that matters. And unlike FPGA toolchains, it's fast to work with: MCC's graphical CLB synthesizer lets you configure, simulate, and debug logic in minutes, with no HDL experience required.

Eliminate that external component, shrink your BOM, reclaim that board space, and you haven't given anything up. If you used PIC16F13145 last year, you already know where this is going.

The PIC16F132 product family- Embedded Innovation with Configurable Logic and Enhanced Security

The entry point. It's an 8- to 40-pin PIC16 with 32 CLB logic elements- automotive-ready, cost-effective, and low-power. It's built for designs where you need real hardware logic capability without the overhead of a standalone CPLD. Pair it with the

• 10-bit ADC with computation, 10-bit DAC, hardware CVD touch sensing, dual 16-bit PWMs, 2× comparators
• SMBus-compatible I²C/SPI and dual EUSARTs
• Up to 28 KB Flash, 2 KB SRAM, 256 B EEPROM
• Packages: SOIC, TSSOP, PDIP, SSOP, VQFN, TQFP

and you have a surprisingly capable chip in a small, affordable package.

Security is handled too

• PDID permanently disables the programming and debug interfaces after deployment, locking down your firmware from the hardware level up.

PIC18-Q35- Maximum Flexibility for Custom Embedded Solutions

This is where the CLB story gets serious.

• 128 logic elements. 64 MHz PIC18 core.
• Multi-Voltage I/O from 1.62V to 5.5V eliminates external level shifters for mixed-voltage designs.
• 4x DMA controllers handle data movement without touching the CPU. UART with LIN and DMX protocol support, Zero-Cross Detect, and the same PDID security lockdown as the F132- all in 28- to 48-pin packages.

Built for industrial, automotive, and security-sensitive environments that demand both performance and flexibility on a single chip.

Both families are fully supported in MPLAB X IDE and VS Code. MCC's CLB synthesizer gives you a graphical drag-and-drop interface, Verilog for advanced users, built-in simulation, timing analysis, and hardware debug pins. No HDL experience needed -you can have custom logic running in minutes.

Resources:
Learn more about- PIC16F13145 / PIC16F132/ PIC18Q35

Check out products on Farnell- 
PIC16F132

Start developing with PIC16F132 Curiosity Nano Development Board

PIC18FQ35

Family  Data sheets- 

PIC16F132 PDF

PDF PIC18Q35

Microchip Technology recently launched the PIC32CM PL10, a 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M0+ MCU making it easier to make the migration from 8-bit AVR feel a lot easier. Pin compatible with our AVR Dx/Ex family, 5V capable, and carrying over the peripherals you already know- MVIO, CCL, EVSYS- it's built so you don't have to redesign your power architecture or relearn your peripheral toolkit to get 32-bit performance. Let's break down what's new and what carries over.

The AVR Migration Story

If you're running AVR Dx/Ex today, with a little effort, PIC32CMPL10 will allow your existing board layout to achieve migration. 5V logic has better noise margins than 3.3V. In industrial environments with motors, relays, or long cable runs, that extra headroom means fewer spurious glitches and more robust signal integrity.

Lots of existing industrial and appliance designs run on 5V buses, sensors, and actuators. If your MCU is 3.3V-only, you're adding level shifters everywhere, which means more BOM cost, more board space, and more failure points. Moving to most 32-bit parts means redesigning around 3.3V. The PL10 removes that barrier. You get 32-bit performance without touching your power architecture.

The peripherals you already know carry straight over: MVIO for mixed-voltage I/O, CCL (Configurable Custom Logic) for hardware glue logic, and EVSYS (Event System) for peripheral-to-peripheral signaling without CPU involvement. The learning curve is about what's new, not relearning what you already have.

On-Chip Capacitive Touch- No External Controller Needed

The integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) handles buttons, sliders, wheels, and multi-element touch layouts directly on the MCU - up to 29 channels, no external touch IC, nothing extra on the BOM.

For real-world reliability we built in Driven Shield+, which actively drives adjacent electrodes to stabilize the touch signal under moisture or electrical noise.. Touch surfaces are configured through our touch library - you're defining behavior, not hand-tuning acquisition registers.

Peripheral-Driven Power Architecture

Two features here that work together really well:

Event System- peripherals trigger each other in hardware, no CPU involved. A timer can kick off a periodic ADC conversion with zero firmware overhead. Fully deterministic.

Sleepwalking- the PTC and ADC stay active while the core is in standby, only waking the CPU when a threshold is crossed or a touch is detected. Routine sensing never has to involve the processor at all.

The result: low average current even in applications that need to stay responsive

Wide Voltage Range + MVIO

The PL10 runs from 1.8V to 5.5V, and Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO) lets one I/O bank run at a different voltage from the core. Interface with 5V legacy peripherals or 1.8V sensors without adding level shifters. Useful in mixed-voltage systems where you'd otherwise be adding components just to bridge rails.

The 12-bit ADC (up to 800 ksps) also includes a built-in low-pass filter and internal techniques for cleaner, more consistent measurements- feeding both touch acquisition and general-purpose analog sensing.

Familiar Peripherals, Modern Dev Environment

Alongside the touch and power features, you get SERCOM interfaces, timers, and configurable logic- the usual suspects. Existing design patterns carry over without surprises.

Development is supported in MPLAB X IDE and VS Code with MPLAB extensions. Code examples and app notes are available through MPLAB Discover.

Get Your Hands On It

Grab the Curiosity Nano on Farnell

The PIC32CM PL10 Curiosity Nano (EV10P22A) is the fastest way to start evaluating. It's got:

• On-board debugger with virtual serial port over USB-C
• Adjustable target voltage (1.8–5.1V)
• User LED, mechanical switch, and an on-board touch button ready to go

Curiosity Nano edge connector- breadboard compatible, castellated edges for surface mounting

What are your thoughts- what is the most compelling feature on the PIC32CMPL10? Let us know in comments! 

For all motor control developers out there…Microchip Technology has released motorBench® Development Suite version 2.50. Automatically generate code and tune your motor to accelerate development of your embedded motor control system.

New Features in version 2.50:

• Code generation using your own custom boards
• Code generation with our development boards
• Code generation using dsPIC® DSC Integrated Motor Drivers
• UI Interface improvement to calculate Ld and Lq
• Manual override of motor self-commissioning
• Updated Motor Control Application Framework

https://www.microchip.com/en-us/solutions/technologies/motor-control-and-drive/motorbench-development-suite

To address the increasing demand for high-performance, math-intensive applications in a wide range of industries, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has released the PIC32A family of MCUs. Enhancing the company’s already robust 32-bit MCU portfolio, PIC32A MCUs are designed to be cost-efficient, high-performance solutions for general-purpose applications across automotive, industrial, consumer, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and medical markets.

Designed to significantly reduce the need for external components, the 200 MHz 32-bit PIC32A family features integrated high-speed analog peripherals, up to 40 Msps 12-bit ADCs, high-speed 5 ns comparators and 100 MHz Gain Bandwidth Product (GBWP) op amps for intelligent edge sensing. These features and a high-performance CPU allow for multiple functions to be performed on a single MCU, optimizing both system and bill of material costs.

Link to Press Release: https://www.microchip.com/en-us/about/news-releases/products/microchip-technology-unveils-32-bit-mcu-family-with-integrated

Microchip are holding their popular conference again soon and registration has just opened:

https://secure.microchip.com/usmasters/Home.aspx

https://secure.microchip.com/usmasters/pricing.aspx

[ps: I am not linked to Microchip in any way, just a maker who keeps watch on their website for updates and news]

Rod

Microchip has recently launched the System on Module (PN: ATSAMA5D27-SOM1ATSAMA5D27-SOM1) which targets embedded Linux applications. Featuring an ARM-based MPU Microchip have done all the very complex design work leaving users to simply place the module onto their application board.

The module is a small-single sided PCB, 40mm x 38mm, industrial temperature grade (-40/+85C) and requires a single 3.3V power supply for operation.

Designers can consider the SoM (System on Module) to be just one of the components they require to build their product.

A ready to go Linux solution is supplied with Microchip’s commitment to in-house Linux support. Microchip contributes to the Linux Mainline and offers a Yocto based build manager, allowing developers to build their own Linux distribution.

The module includes several components from Microchip.   

Industry standard ARM MPU with DDR Memory, 10/100Mbit Ethernet PHY, (MAC address is programmed into a small serial eeprom), a power-management controller, and non-volatile boot memory.

For the more adventurous, the SoM can be used as a reference design: Microchip provides a reference implementation with full access to design files for those who want to consider making modifications or migrate to discrete designs.

For fast development, Microchip offers the ATSAMA5D27-SOM1-EK1 ATSAMA5D27-SOM1-EK1 which incorporates the SoM. This board is backed by a Board Support Package (BSP) with Linux kernel and drivers for the SoM’s MPU peripherals and integrated circuits.

For more information, click here to read the User Manual.