Microchip CAN 2.0B compatibility on Microchip PIC18F Micros

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CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2002 [NASDAQ: MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc. announced today that its PIC18FXX8 family of high-performance, self-programmable Flash microcontrollers with an intelligent CAN 2.0B active interface have achieved conformance with the ISO DIS 16845 standard, as tested by the Communication and Systems (C&S) Group in Germany. The CAN protocol conformance test defined as ISO DIS 16845 ensures interoperability within a CAN network.

"Today's announcement reinforces Microchip's continuous efforts to deliver products that meet or exceed the automotive industry's CAN requirements for connectivity applications," said Dan Termer, Vice President of the Automotive Products Group for Microchip. "Receiving ISO conformance reflects our commitment to open standards that allow our customers to develop their end products quickly and easily."

The C&S Group was founded in 1995 and is fully incorporated by the faculty of Computer Science at the University of Applied Science in Wolfenbuttel, Germany. The group specializes in testing and verifying communication protocols for use in automotive and industrial automation applications to ensure that manufacturers' products conform to the corresponding standards.

Some of the smallest footprint CAN microcontrollers in the world, the PIC18F248, PIC18F258, PIC18F448 and PIC18F458 devices provide a high degree of flexibility that allows the devices to be programmed in socket via the CAN network. This allows remote nodes to be updated without physically touching the devices. In addition to the self-programmable Flash memory, the CAN devices also offer significantly more horsepower than the competition. Offering up to 10MIPS performance at 10MHz, the PIC18FXX8 family provides the power to make designs come to life in the automotive, industrial control, and medical equipment markets.

With an operating range of 2.0-5.5V, the devices feature up to 32K bytes of self-programmable Flash memory, up to 1.5K bytes of user SRAM and 256 bytes of data EEPROM. Providing a C compiler-friendly development environment, the devices possess a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with up to 8 input channels. The CAN interface has three transmit buffers, two receive buffers, six acceptance filters and two acceptance masks.

Differentiating features include low-voltage programmability, a rich peripheral set with both digital and analog modules and selectable oscillator options (crystal/resonator/external clock, 4x phase lock loop [PLL] for high-frequency oscillators and a 32KHz secondary oscillator clock input). The advantage of the self-programmable Flash memory allows the device to be updated in socket by executing its own internal instructions, thereby eliminating the need for external high-voltage or additional hardware.

The 40-lead PIC18F448 and PIC18F458 include the Enhanced Capture/Compare/Pulse Width Module (PWM) that is capable of outputting four 10-bit PWM signals with an auto shutdown feature. These devices provide an ideal embedded solution for driving half- and full-bridge motor control applications requiring access to CAN networks.

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 3,250 people worldwide and has sales offices throughout Asia, Europe, Japan and the Americas. More information on the Company can be found at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, PIC, PICmicro, microID and KeeLoq are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.