PIC MCU family brings ease of design with more core independent peripherals

The PIC16F15386 family, the powerful launching point into the 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) portfolio, is now available from Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions. In addition to our current Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), this family includes a high accuracy 32 MHz internal oscillator and memory features like Memory Access Partition (MAP) with bootloader-friendly write-protection to prevent accidental over-write. Device Information Area (DIA) offers protected storage for unique device identification and calibration values. The PIC16F15386 family also offers a comprehensive, easy-to-use development experience with Microchip’s MPLAB Xpress with MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) - the quickest way to generate application code. The family is suitable for a broad range of general purpose and low-power applications.

The scalable family offers up to 28KB Flash and 2KB RAM in 8- to 48-pin package options. It is the first 8-bit PIC MCU family to offer the 48-pin package, adding more Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) channels and I/Os. The family offers high levels of CIP integration to perform system functions (signal generation, motor control, safety monitoring, system communications, and human interface) outside the core while consuming as little power as possible. The new MCUs also contain power management features (IDLE and DOZE modes and Peripheral Module Disable) that allow engineers to optimise the balance between power consumption and performance.

“We’ve always offered a diverse portfolio of products with large market appeal,” said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip’s 8-bit MCU division. “With the combination of the most requested features and peripherals by our large base of PIC MCU users, the flexibility in memory size and package options and the availability of MPLAB Xpress with MCC, we expect the PIC16F15386 family to be popular with experienced and first time PIC MCU designers.”

Development support

The new family-specific Xpress series development board enables projects to start immediately. In only two minutes, engineers may start application code development with the Xpress series board and the cloud-based MPLAB Xpress Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The family is also supported by two Curiosity boards (DM164136 and DM164137) and Microchip’s free software development platforms including MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) and MPLAB X IDE. MCC is a free software plug-in that provides a graphical interface to configure peripherals and functions specific to your application. For a limited time, we are offering free Xpress series boards.