New family of MCUs optimized for motor control and general purpose applications

The newest family of PIC32 MCUs is now available from Microchip Technology. The PIC32MK family features four highly integrated MCUs for precision dual motor control applications and eight MCUs packed with serial communication modules for general purpose applications. All MC and GP devices feature a 120MHz 32-bit core that supports DSP instructions. Additionally, to ease control algorithm development, a double-precision floating point unit is integrated into the MCU core enabling customers to utilize floating-point based modelling and simulation tools for code development. To increase efficiency and decrease the number of discrete devices needed in motor control applications, the high-performance devices combine 32-bit processing with advanced analog peripherals such as a quad 10MHz op amp, high-speed comparators and motor-control optimized PWM modules. The devices also have ADC modules capable of total throughput of 25.45MSPS in 12-bit mode or 33.79MSPS in 8-bit mode, enabling higher precision in motor control applications. The devices come with up to 1MB Live Update Flash, 4KB of EEPROM and 256KB SRAM. “The PIC32MK family represents a continuation in the Microchip motor control line up enabling traditional 8 and 16-bit customers to move to a 32-bit MCU for motor control while maintaining support through classic Microchip development tools,” said Rod Drake, vice president of Microchip’s MCU32 business unit. “The family also has general purpose MCUs with an extensive array of serial communications modules ideally suited for the industrial space.” With class-leading connectivity integration, the PIC32MK devices have up to four independent CAN 2.0 ports as well as six UART modules, LIN 1.2 and six SPI or I2S modules. Additionally, two complete full-speed USB modules are included on select devices enabling simultaneous USB host and USB device to be active at the same time. A single MCU can be used to communicate to multiple bus protocols for reduced design complexity and cost, making the devices ideal for dual-USB applications such as digital audio or CAN-based implementations in the automotive and industrial markets.