Microchip Expands CAN Microcontroller Line with Cost-Effective 8-bit PIC® MCUs Featuring 5.5V Operation, eXtreme Low Power

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced the PIC18F "K80” 8-bit CAN microcontrollers (MCUs) featuring 1.8 – 5.5V operation and eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, for the industry’s lowest sleep current consumption of less than 20 nA. The new MCUs also feature an on-chip 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and a peripheral that enables mTouch™ capacitive touch-sensing user interfaces. They are ideal for applications in the automotive (e.g. body control modules, automotive lighting, door/seat/steering/window control, HVAC control), industrial (e.g. security systems, elevators and escalators) and medical (e.g. glucose meters, patient-monitoring devices) markets.

Manufacturers are under intense pressure to cut costs while delivering more sophisticated products. The PIC18F K80 CAN MCU family enables smaller, more cost-effective and robust control with its integrated CAN peripheral for automotive and industrial applications. For medical applications that require low power and accuracy, the MCUs deliver best-in-industry current ratings for longer battery life, as well as the on-chip 12-bit ADC and touch-sensing peripheral for advanced sensors.

"The PIC18F K80 family was developed for designers who need to add cost-effective CAN communication to their applications with extremely low power sleep and active modes, and robust operation up to 5.5 Volts,” said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. "The new MCUs offer a migration path for our popular PIC18F4680 CAN family, serving a wide spectrum of applications.”

Development Support

Microchip also announced two PIC18 Explorer Board Plug-In Modules (PIMs) for the PIC18F K80 MCUs, today—the 44-pin PIC18F46K80 (part # MA180031, $25) and the 64-pin PIC18F66K80 (part # MA180032, $25) PIMs. For the implementation and evaluation of CAN, Microchip’s CAN/LIN PICtail™ (Plus) Daughter Board (part # AC164130-2, $45) may be used in conjunction with its PIC18 Explorer or Explorer 16 development boards.

Microchip‘s complete suite of standard development tools is also available, including the user-friendly MPLAB^® IDE, REAL ICE™ and ICD3 tools; and the MPLAB C18 and HI-TECH^® C compilers for PIC18 MCUs. All of these tools can be ordered today, at microchipDIRECT (http://www.microchip.com/get/HEV6). More information on Microchip development tools is available at http://www.microchip.com/get/34BR.

Packaging, Pricing & Availability

The new PIC18F45K80, PIC18F46K80, PIC18F65K80 and PIC18F66K80 MCUs are available in 44- and 64-pin TQFP and QFN packages. Additionally, the PIC18F45K80, PIC18F46K80 MCUs are available in a 40-pin PDIP package. The PIC18F25K80 and PIC18F26K80 MCUs are available in 28-pin QFN, SOIC, SPDIP and SSOP packages.

Pricing starts at $1.84 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples are available today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/ETXL, and volume-production quantities can be purchased today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/HEV6. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Web site at http://www.microchip.com/get/TK9F. To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to http://www.microchip.com/get/HEV6 or contact one of Microchip’s authorized distribution partners.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip Web site (http://www.microchip.com/get/UA0J).

Note: The Microchip name and logo, HI-TECH C, MPLAB and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A., and other countries. mTouch, PICtail and REAL ICE are trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A., and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies.

High-res Photos and Block Diagram available through editorial contact or Flickr (feel free to publish):

Product Photo
http://www.microchip.com/get/CC5P

Block Diagram
http://www.microchip.com/get/KLDC

PIC18F46K80 PIM
http://www.microchip.com/get/KUDT

PIC18F66K80 PIM
http://www.microchip.com/get/7V76

Tags / Keywords: Microchip, MCHP, PIC, CAN microcontroller, Controller Area Network, MCU

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