New generation of AVR MCUs with core independent peripherals

Microchip has announced a new generation of 8-bit tiny AVR MCUs. The four new devices range from 14 to 24 pins and 4KB or 8KB of Flash and are the first tinyAVR microcontrollers to feature core independent peripherals. The new devices will be supported by START, an innovative online tool for intuitive, graphical configuration of embedded software projects. “This announcement is very important to Microchip as it represents the coming together of the two most powerful 8-bit MCU brands under one roof,” said Steve Sanghi, CEO and chairman of the board of Microchip Technology “Customers love both PIC and AVR MCUs and Microchip is re-energising new product development to not only continue to support, but to grow the AVR portfolio.” The new devices provide all the features needed to help to drive product innovation including small, low pin-count and feature-rich peripherals with 4KB or 8KB of Flash memory. Other integrated features include a core-independent peripheral touch controller; event system for peripheral co-operation; custom programmable logic blocks; self-programming for firmware upgrades; non-volatile data storage; 20MHz internal oscillator; high-speed serial communication with USART; operating voltages ranging from 1.8V to 5.5V; 10-bit ADC with internal voltage references; and sleep currents at less than 100 nA in power-down mode with SRAM retention. CIPs allow the peripherals to operate independently of the core and include serial communication and analogue peripherals. Together with the event system, which allows peripherals to communicate without using the CPU, applications can be optimised at a system level. This lowers power consumption and increases throughput and system reliability. Accompanying the release of the four new devices, the company is adding support for the new AVR family in START, the online tool to configure software components and tailor embedded applications. This tool is free of charge and offers an optimised framework that allows the user to focus on adding differentiating features to their application.