Microchip High-Performance PIC18 - First Four Devices Debut

		First PIC18 Microcontrollers from Microchip Introduced

	Company: Microchip
	Category: Microcontroller Cores (new Products)
	Date: 6-July-199

	Chandler, AZ (microcontroller.com) - Microchip Technology today introduced the first four devices in their high-performance 8-bit RISC PIC18 family. NEW PIC18CXXX ARCHITECTURE The PIC18CXXX architecture offers up to two million bytes of linear program memory address space, a C compiler friendly development environment, and 10 MIPS performance at 40 MHz (external clock). In separate announcements today, Microchip debuted the first four PIC18CXXX devices: PIC18C242 PIC18C442 PIC18C252 PIC18C452 Microchip plans to expand the new PIC18CXXX family in the next two years with products featuring Flash, OTP and ROM memories. PIC18CXXX Architecture: Technical Specifications The PIC18CXXX architecture is an enhanced RISC core that is upward compatible from Microchip’s Mid-Range PIC12C6XX and PIC16CXXX core and High-End PIC17CXXX core. Linear address spaceLinear address space. The on-chip memory addressing of the PIC18CXXX architecture is expanded to accommodate up to two million bytes of program memory and 4K bytes of data memory. As 8-bit microcontroller applications increase in complexity, memory requirements have grown rapidly. Additional instructionsAdditional instructions. The PIC18CXXX combines the bit-manipulation instructions from the existing Mid-Range and byte manipulation instructions from the High-End PICmicro CPUs, including the 8x8 single cycle hardware multiply and table read/write. The PIC18CXXX is a 16-bit instruction and 8-bit data ALU architecture, offering higher performance at an attractive price. Designed for C compiler efficiencyDesigned for C compiler efficiency. As the microcontroller memory size has increased, so has the use of high-level language compilers. Systems using 4K words of program memory and greater usually write code in a high-level language such as ANSI C. Microcontrollers have traditionally been programmed in assembly code so the compiler target was not ideal. Linear program memory removes all paging-related overhead. Data memory is highly linear as well. 128 bytes of "Access RAM" highly suitable for global variable allocation. Three 12-bit-wide data pointer registers with pre-increment, post-increment, post-decrement and offset-addressing modes The top of the hardware PC stack is readable and writable via PUSH and POP instructions. This also makes the PIC18CXXX very suitable for RTOS implementation. Modular emulation tool. Microchip’s new modular emulator technology features a two-chip design which enhances system validation and overall productivity. A standard PICmicro device called a bondout chip is used in the emulator featuring a special "emulation mode". This allows for exact emulation of complex peripherals. Sensitive modules such as analog-to-digital converters and voltage references are emulated with no differences from the actual production product.. Microchip’s new modular emulator technology features a two-chip design which enhances system validation and overall productivity. A standard PICmicro device called a bondout chip is used in the emulator featuring a special "emulation mode". This allows for exact emulation of complex peripherals. Sensitive modules such as analog-to-digital converters and voltage references are emulated with no differences from the actual production product. ADD THREE – NEW PIC18CXXX ARCHITECTURE Code compatibleCode compatible. The PIC18CXXX architecture is source code compatible with existing PIC12C6XX and PIC16CXXX microcontrollers. Any assembly or C source code written for the PIC12C6XX and PIC16CXXX will transfer to the PIC18CXXX architecture. Source code written for the PIC17CXXX will transfer with minor modification. Flexible Programming Microchip’s PICmicro OTP and Flash microcontrollers feature In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™ ), which allows non-intrusive programming of the microcontroller after being placed in a circuit board. This offers tremendous flexibility, reducing development time and manufacturing cycles. ICSP also enables reduced cost of field upgrades, permits system calibration during manufacturing, enables adding unique identification codes to the system and calibration of system in the field. Requiring only two I/O pins for most devices, Microchip offers the most non-intrusive programming available today. PIC18CXXX Development Systems The PIC18CXXX is supported by the MPLAB-C18 C Compiler, a complete high-level language compiler for the company’s new PIC18CXXX 8-bit RISC microcontroller architecture MPLAB-C18 is expected to be available August 1999 for $495 each. A 30-day full-featured demo of MPLAB-C18 can be downloaded from Microchip’s web site at no cost. The MPLAB-ICE 2000 Universal In-Circuit Emulator provides high-performance real-time emulation for the PIC18CXXX. The system features the MPLAB Integrated Development Environment. Interchangeable processor modules and device adapters allow the emulator system to be configured to emulate different processors. MPLAB-ICE 2000 allows system emulation voltages as low as 2.0 volts and can emulate at full speed. MPLAB allows users to edit, simulate, compile, and emulate all from a single user interface. Pricing for MPLAB-ICE 2000 starts at $1,995. Microchip offers additional support, including development and programming tools. About Microchip Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the PICmicroâ family of 8-bit RISC-based microcontrollers—with OTP, Flash, and ROM memory technologies; serial EEPROMs and related specialty memory products; microIDä family of RFID products and KEELOQâ code hopping devices. These products target thousands of embedded control applications in the consumer, automotive, office automation, communications and industrial markets. Microchip’s quality systems are ISO 9001 certified. Headquartered near Phoenix in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip employs approximately 1,865 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas. Related Stories: Microchip Introduces New PIC18 Microcontroller Family Microchip Announces CAN Product Roadmap
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First PIC18 Microcontrollers from Microchip Introduced

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