Microchip Introduces Powerful MPLAB Emulator for PIC and dsPIC Microcontrollers

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CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 17, 2003 [NASDAQ: MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc. today introduced the MPLAB® In-Circuit Emulator (ICE) 4000, the company's premier in-circuit emulator system for its high-end PIC18F Flash PICmicro® microcontrollers and dsPIC™ digital signal controller devices. The new emulator provides full speed, low voltage emulation, interchangeable processor modules and device adapters. Offering advanced features typically found on more expensive development tools, the MPLAB ICE 4000 is available for the low cost of $2,560 (US).

The Microchip MPLAB ICE 4000 is a modular system that consists of an emulator pod, processor module, device adapter and transition socket. The interchangeable components allow the system to be easily configured to emulate different Microchip PICmicro microcontrollers.

Photo of MPLAB ICE 4000

ICE Features
The small, portable and lightweight MPLAB ICE 4000 features:
• real-time in-circuit emulation
• low-voltage emulation down to 1.8 volts
• 64K deep by 216-bit wide trace memory
• up to a 2MB overlay memory
• a 48-bit time stamp
• stopwatch
• unlimited breakpoints
• trace analyzer
• USB and Parallel interfaces
• code coverage profiling on program memory accesses

Triggers and breakpoints can be set on single, multiple, or sequences of events, and complex triggering provides sophisticated trace analysis and precision breakpoints.

The trace analyzer, which is fully transparent, captures real-time execution addresses, op-codes and read/writes of external data. A view of the trace can be performed without halting the processor. It also traces all file register RAM usage showing internal addresses and data transfers, as well as all access to special function registers, including I/O pins, timers, and peripherals.

Software Tools Included

Modular Diagram of MPLAB ICE 4000

Also included in the MPLAB ICE 4000 modular system are Microchip's MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE) featuring MPASM™ assembler, MPLAB programmer's editor, symbolic debugger and project manager with built-in support for high level language debugging. The emulator system runs on the Windows®-based MPLAB IDE, with the capability to edit, compile and emulate from a single application. The MPLAB desktop provides the development environment and tools for developing and debugging applications as a project, allowing quick movement between different development and debugging modes.

Pricing and Availability
Available today, the MPLAB ICE 4000 Emulator Kit costs $2,560 and the processor module for the PIC18F6620, PIC18F6720, PIC18F8620 and PIC18F8720 devices (PMF18WA0) is $595. An MPLAB ICE 4000 device adapter (DAF18-1) is available for $225. A processor module for the PIC18C601 and PIC18C801 devices (PMF18WB1) and additional device support are scheduled to become available in Q2 CY03. Microchip's MPLAB ICE 2000 is still available and supports the company's PIC12, PIC16, PIC17 and PIC18 PICmicro microcontrollers.


About Microchip Technology
Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the popular PICmicro® field-programmable RISC microcontrollers, which serve 8- and 16-bit embedded control applications, and a broad spectrum of high performance linear and mixed-signal, power management and thermal management devices. The Company also offers complementary microperipheral products including interface devices; microID® RFID devices; serial EEPROMs; and the patented KEELOQ® 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 in Chandler, Arizona with design facilities in Mountain View, California, Bangalore, India; and a European Design Center in Lausanne, Switzerland; semiconductor fabrication facilities in Tempe and Chandler, Arizona; Gresham, Oregon; and Puyallup, Washington; and assembly and test operations near Bangkok, Thailand. Microchip employs approximately 3,350 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas.