Microchip Introduces 16-bit DSP Family

Microchip Introduces 16-bit DSP Family - The dsPIC

Company:	Microchip
Category:	New Products
Date:	17-Nov-2000

CHANDLER, Ariz., Nov. 17, 2000 - Microchip Technology Inc. today announced plans to enter the emerging high-volume digital signal control marketplace with the the new dsPICä family. The 16-bit dsPIC digital signal controller combines the control advantages of a microcontroller with the high computation speed of a digital signal processor (DSP) to produce a single-chip solution for embedded systems designs. In order to effectively pursue the DSP market, Microchip has formed the Digital Signal Controller Division to design, develop and launch the 16-bit dsPICä family of digital signal controllers. Sumit Mitra, an 18-year industry veteran, was recently named Vice President of the Digital Signal Controller Division. Prior to his new role, Mitra was Vice President of Worldwide Applications and Systems. He was responsible for managing Microchip’s worldwide field and corporate applications engineers with a focus on design creation. He also managed and continues to manage the Development Systems Business, including design, production, marketing and support of software and hardware tools. Mitra’s prior experience as architect and VLSI design engineer includes 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers and DSP processors. Microchip is ramping engineering staff to support the new division. "Microchip is creating a 16-bit microcontroller family with screaming performance at a competitive price—and engineers receive DSP functionality for free," said Sumit Mitra, Vice President of Microchip’s Digital Signal Control Division. Digital Signal Control Market More and more embedded applications require higher computational power in order to control a growing number of functions and rich feature sets in thousands of products. The digital signal control market combines the attributes of microcontrollers and digital signal processing to address embedded control applications. The dsPIC family of digital signal controllers targets microcontroller-based applications that require varied levels of digital signal processing capability. The dsPIC devices help close the performance gap between 16-bit microcontrollers and low-end DSPs. The digital signal controllers are also an ideal solution for traditional 16-bit microcontroller applications. "Microchip Technology has coined a unique and descriptive term for a burgeoning market segment," said Will Strauss, president of Forward Concepts. "The early adopters in the digital signal control space are variable speed drives driven by power efficiency requirements in Europe and noise reduction requirements in Japan. This market will grow eight-fold in 2000 over 1999. Additional applications are coming on strong at an extraordinary pace in this exciting growth area of the market." A number of design trends are driving this new market and the need for a digital signal controller solution: More complex motor control techniques requiring the processing precision & speed of a DSP, A reduction in generated motor noise, DSPs in Automotive systems in control-oriented applications for precise real-time response Bringing DSP Functionality to the Familiar MCU Development Toolsw Designers wishing to add digital signal processing to embedded control applications are faced with the daunting prospect of developing signal processing expertise and then learning an unfamiliar architecture and tool set, a time-consuming process that directly affects time-to-market goals. The dsPIC family provides DSP functionality in the familiar PICmicro microcontroller Integrated Design Environment (MPLABâ IDE), offering an easy-to-implement solution to engineers familiar with microcontrollers. The dsPIC family will address the functionality gap between DSPs and microcontrollers. Microcontrollers are state centric and interrupt-driven. DSPs are flow centric and interrupts can and do affect the accurate processing of time-critical algorithms. Microcontrollers are driven by a horizontal base of customers who require robust and extensive peripheral offerings, whereas DSPs are driven by major markets and customers within those markets with a more narrow peripheral base. In addition, the dsPIC family will have full access to Microchip’s extensive microcontroller peripheral library. High-Volume, Horizontal Applications Applications that can utilize the advantages of digital signal controllers include: Induction motors in HVAC, Energy efficient motor control for white goods appliances, Automotive (noise reduction, active vibration control), Feature telephones (caller ID, noise cancellation, DTMF), Digital answering machines (speech compression), Low-speed software modems, line card (echo cancellation), POS terminals (encryption, software modem for dial-up), Vending machines (remote monitoring through the Internet), Biometric security (such as finger print matching), High-end uninterruptible power supplies Power supply management. The dsPIC family brings DSP functionality and 16-bit microcontrollers functionality to the familiar PICmicro microcontroller architecture and design environment. According to Microchip, the typical application for a dsPIC device is anticipated to achieve up to a 25x performance increase over most 8-bit microcontrollers. The dsPIC family will be available in a variety of pin configurations and is expected to be optimized for high level languages while featuring DSP functionality, a robust peripheral set and easy-to-use development tools. Pricing & Availability Microchip’s dsPIC devices are expected to range from $3-$9 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The dsPIC architecture is expected to be announced publicly mid-2001 with beta sampling planned for end of 2001. Volume production, product samples and related development tools are expected for early 2002. For more information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor. The statements contained in this release relating to the expected size of the market for high-volume digital signal controllers, applications for digital signal controllers, expected pricing for Microchip’s family of digital signal controllers, and expected start of volume production of Microchip’s dsPIC products are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to, future demand for Microchip’s products, timely completion and introduction of the dsPIC product line, development of support tools and collateral literature for the dsPIC product line, market acceptance of the dsPIC product line and of Microchip’s customers’ end-products, competition and competitive pressure on prices and general economic conditions. Other important risks related to our business are detailed in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000 and our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the widely popular PICmicroâ RISC microcontrollers which serve 8- and 16-bit embedded control applications. Specializing in field-programmable and mixed-signal solutions, the Company also offers complementary microperipheral products including stand-alone analog, interface and microIDä RFID devices; serial EEPROMs; and the patented KEELOQâ security devices. This synergistic product portfolio targets thousands of applications and a growing demand for high-performance designs in the automotive, communications, computing, consumer and industrial control markets. The Company’s quality systems are ISO 9001 (1994 version) and QS9000 (1998 version) certified. Microchip is headquartered near Phoenix in Chandler, Arizona, with semiconductor fabrication facilities in Arizona and Washington; and assembly and test operations near Bangkok, Thailand. Microchip employs approximately 3,100 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas. Note: The Microchip name and logo, PIC, PICmicro, MPLAB and KEELOQ are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. dsPIC and microID are trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Microcontrollers for Embedded Systems Designers

Microchip Introduces 16-bit DSP Family - The dsPIC

Microcontrollers for
Embedded Systems
Designers