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Microchip Unveils New Class-leading 32-bit MCU Family, Alongside the First Embedded Firmware Development Tool in the Industry

2013-11-20 12:00 1505

BANGKOK, Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

  • 24-member PIC32MZ family offers 330 DMIPS, 3.28 CoreMarks™/MHz and 30% better code density
  • New MPLAB® Harmony 32-bit MCU development tool integrates more middleware, drivers, libraries and RTOSs than ever before, simplifying 32-bit MCU code development, reducing integration bugs and speeding up designs

Microchip Technology Inc. [NASDAQ:  MCHP], a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today unveiled two of its latest innovations. The new 24-member PIC32MZ Embedded Connectivity (EC) family of 32-bit MCUs provides class-leading performance of 330 DMIPS and 3.28 CoreMarks™/MHz, along with dual-panel, live-update Flash (up to 2 MB), large RAM (512 KB) and the connectivity peripherals needed to support today's demanding applications. At the same time, Microchip has also launched the industry's most comprehensive 32-bit microcontroller firmware development framework -- MPLAB® Harmony. This framework is the first to integrate the licensing, resale and support of both Microchip and third-party middleware, drivers, libraries and real-time operating systems, simplifying the development process for all 32-bit MCUs including the new PIC32MZ family, and reducing the time needed for integration and time-to-market.

Microchip PIC32MZ Embedded Connectivity MCU Family
Microchip PIC32MZ Embedded Connectivity MCU Family

Microchip MPLAB(R) Harmony
Microchip MPLAB(R) Harmony

Embedded designers are faced with ever-increasing demands for additional features that require more MCU performance and memory. At the same time, they are looking to reduce cost and complexity by utilising fewer MCUs, creating increasing demand for integration. The PIC32MZ family meets this demand by incorporating a full-featured hardware crypto engine with a random number generator for high-throughput data encryption/decryption and authentication (e.g., AES, 3DES, SHA, MD5 and HMAC), as well as the first SQI interface on a Microchip MCU and the PIC32's highest number of serial channels. In addition, the PIC32MZ is Microchip's first MCU to employ Imagination's MIPS microAptiv™ core, which adds 159 new DSP instructions that enable the execution of DSP algorithms at up to 75 per cent fewer cycles than the PIC32MX families. This core also provides the microMIPS® instruction-set architecture, which improves code density while operating at near full rate, instruction and data cache, and its 200 MHz/330 DMIPS offers 3 times the performance of the PIC32MX.

As a result, the PIC32MZ family provides three times the performance and four times the memory over the previous-generation PIC32MX families, along with a high level of advanced peripheral integration. For applications requiring embedded connectivity, the family includes Hi-Speed USB, Ethernet and CAN, along with a broad set of wired and wireless protocol stacks. Many embedded applications are adding better graphics displays, and the PIC32MZ can support up to a WQVGA display without any external graphics chips. Streaming/digital audio applications can take advantage of this family's 159 DSP instructions, large memory, peripherals such as I2S, and available software.

Microchip's new MPLAB Harmony framework helps to reduce development time and costs even further by providing a single integrated, abstracted and flexible source for Microchip-tested, debugged and interoperable code. Additionally, Harmony provides a modular architecture that enables the efficient integration of multiple drivers, middleware and libraries, while offering an RTOS-independent environment.  Not only does this pre-verification and integration accelerate development, it also increases reuse. Currently, Harmony includes third-party offerings from Express Logic, FreeRTOS, InterNiche, WITTENSTEIN High Integrity Systems and wolfSSL, with many more on the way.

On the hardware side, the Harmony framework makes it even easier to port code and migrate among all of Microchip's 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers. And, by utilising this single source for in-house and supported third-party code (both free and premium), designers can greatly increase their reaction times to their ever-changing end market requirements.

"Our new PIC32MZ family was designed for high-end and next-generation embedded applications that require high levels of performance, memory and advanced-peripheral integration," said Rod Drake, director of Microchip's MCU32 Division. "The PIC32MZ enables designers to add features such as improved graphics displays, faster real-time performance and increased security with a single MCU, lowering both cost and complexity. Alongside this sophisticated addition to our PIC32 portfolio, the MPLAB Harmony development framework also represents a powerful new tool for engineers grappling with the latest design challenges. Its software development approach is unmatched in the embedded industry. Quite simply, nobody else provides a single, comprehensive firmware development framework that enables designers to download and find support for such a broad range of pre-tested, interoperable software."

Development Support: PIC32MZ

Three new PIC32MZ development tools are available today. The complete, turn-key PIC32MZ EC Starter Kit comes in two flavours to support family members with the integrated crypto engine (Part # DM320006-C) and those without (Part # DM320006). The Multimedia Expansion Board II (Part # DM320005-2), which is available at a special introductory rate for the first six months, can be used with either of the Starter Kits to develop graphics HMI, connectivity and audio applications.  The 168-pin to132-pin Starter Kit Adapter (Part # AC320006) enables development with Microchip's extensive portfolio of application-specific daughter boards.  The PIC32MZ2048EC Plug-in Module (Part # MA320012) is available for existing users of the Explorer 16 Modular Development Board.  For more information and to purchase these tools, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/JDVB.

Availability: PIC32MZ

The first 12 members of the PIC32MZ family are expected starting in December for sampling and volume production, while the remaining 12, along with additional package options, are expected to become available at various dates through May 2014. The crypto engine is integrated into eight of the PIC32MZ MCUs, and there is an even split of 12 MCUs with 1 MB of Flash and 12 MCUs with 2 MB of Flash. Products are supplied in 10,000-unit quantities. The superset family members and their package options are the 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) and TQFP (9x9 mm) for the PIC32MZ2048ECH064; 100-pin TQFP (12x12 and 14x14 mm) for the PIC32MZ2048ECH100; 124-pin VTLA (9x9 mm) for the PIC32MZ2048ECH124; and 144-pin TQFP (16x16 mm) and LQFP (20x20 mm) for the PIC32MZ2048ECH144.

The superset versions with an integrated crypto engine are the PIC32MZ2048ECM064, PIC32MZ2048ECM100, PIC32MZ2048ECM124 and PIC32MZ2048ECM144.

For more information, contact any Microchip sales representatives or authorised worldwide distributors, or visit Microchip's website at http://www.microchip.com/get/ESJG. To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to microchipDIRECT or contact one of the Microchip's authorised distributors.

Availability: MPLAB Harmony

MPLAB Harmony is available today, and the basic framework is free. The first release provides initial support for the new PIC32MZ family, as well as the PIC32MX families. Full support for all PIC32 families is planned for the next version release, which is expected in March 2014. Once downloaded, there is a modular menu of free and premium software options that are also available today. The expanding list of initial offerings includes RTOSs -- FreeRTOS from Real Time Engineers Ltd. and OPENRTOS from Wittenstein High Integrity Systems, a TCP/IP stack from InterNiche Technologies, and a CyaSSL Embedded SSL Library from wolfSSL, among many others.

Microchip's comprehensive MPLAB Harmony Online Design Center, located at http://www.microchip.com/get/V2PJ, provides designers with a portal where they can easily download the framework and get started with their development. Additionally, the site offers many resources to users of the Harmony framework.

For more information, contact any Microchip sales representatives or authorised worldwide distributors, or visit Microchip's website at http://www.microchip.com/get/V2PJ. For information on Microchip's extensive portfolio of 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers and development tools, including a rich ecosystem of third parties, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/TRRX.

Resources: PIC32MZ family

Watch a short video on the PIC32MZ family: http://www.microchip.com/get/FKGK

View a brief presentation on the PIC32MZ family: http://www.microchip.com/get/1WEC

High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

Resources: MPLAB® Harmony

Watch a short video on MPLAB® Harmony: http://www.microchip.com/get/8NXF

View a brief presentation on MPLAB® Harmony: http://www.microchip.com/get/WUVC

High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

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Source: Microchip Technology Inc.
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