8- And 16-Bit MCUs Specify Extremely Low Sleep Currents

Three new families of 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers join three other recently released families of 8-bit devices featuring the nanoWatt XLP eXtreme Low Power technology. The PIC MCUs have sleep currents down to 20 nA, real-time clock currents down to 500 nA, and watchdog timer currents as low as 400 nA. The families include the four-member 16-bit PIC24F16KA series, which integrates EEPROM memory and has a small footprint and low-pin-count options (20 and 28 pins). These MCUs enable applications to run for more than 20 years off one battery. The six-member general-purpose PIC18F46J11 series provides up to 64 kbytes of flash program memory and the peripheral set of typical 64- or 80-pin devices in only 28 or 44 pins. The six-member PIC18F46J50 series adds integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 to enable connectivity for embedded applications requiring remote field upgrades or the downloading of data. Prices for the PIC24F16KA MCUs start at $1.38 each. The 20-pin package options include QFN, SSOP, SOIC, and PDIP. The 28-pin options include QFN, SSOP, SOIC, and SPDIP. The six devices in the PIC18F46J11 series start at $1.58 each. Package options include 28-pin QFN, SSOP, SOIC, and SPDIP and 44-pin QFN and TQFP. The six PIC18F46J50 USB MCUs start at $1.78 each. Packages include the 28-pin QFN, SSOP, SOIC, and SPDIP and the 44-pin QFN and TQFP. All prices are for 10,000-piece quantities and all the chips are available now. MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC., Chandler, AZ. (480) 792-7200.