A new family of microcontrollers has been launched by microchip. The PIC24FJ128GC010 family is an analogue system on a chip that integrates a full analogue signal chain. The devices feature the company’s first ever on-chip precision 16-bit ADC and 10 Msps 12-bit ADC, along with a DAC and dual operational amplifiers (Op Amps). They also integrate the company’s eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology that supports extended battery life in portable medical and industrial applications.
This combination of analogue integration and low power consumption is said to reduce system cost and noise, and improve the signal throughput in applications which include portable medical monitoring devices as well as industrial applications and portable monitoring devices.
This family includes an integrated LCD display driver that is claimed to provide the ability to drive up to 472 segments with information-rich user displays that include scrolling alphanumeric banners. Integrated USB supports the uploading of clinical data for medical equipment and can act as a service/data port for industrial equipment. Capacitive touch sensing is supported with an on-chip mTouch peripheral.
The integration of a 16-bit ADC, USB and LCD into a single low-power MCU to said to be the enabler for very small form-factor battery-powered applications.
The family is supported by the company’s Starter Kit for PIC24F Intelligent Integrated Analogue (DM240015) which is being offered for a special introductory price for a limited time. This kit is focused on the family’s integrated analogue to preserve signal integrity.
Microchip
