New Microchip PIC18F Family Targets Motor Control

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CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 27, 2003 – Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced a new PIC18F family of four PICmicro® Flash microcontrollers for Motor Control applications. The new PIC18F2439/2539/4439/4539 product family features a single-phase motor control peripheral to provide a quick-to-market solution for designers trying to simplify motor control integration into their designs.

Motor Control
The sophisticated single-phase (open loop) motor control kernel provides quick and easy development by utilizing standard application programming interfaces (APIs) and uses the on-chip pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control single-phase induction motors. The PIC18FXX39 family includes Programmable Motor Processor Technology™ (ProMPT™) motor control that provides modulated output over a range of 0 to 127 Hz, and has a pre-defined variable frequency (V/F) curve that can be programmed to suit the application. By using these features, motor control tasks can be realized with little or no previous experience in motor control techniques, according to Microchip.

"This product launch represents Microchip's continued expansion into the motor-control market, targeting single-phase motor control applications that require variable speed control and more energy efficient operation," said Cheri Keller, product marketing manager of the Advanced Microcontroller and Automotive Division at Microchip. "The PIC18FXX39 family merges all the advantages of the PIC18F architecture and the flexibility of Flash program memory with a sophisticated single-phase motor control kernel that provides a quick solution for engineers with limited motor control expertise."

The PIC18FXX39 family also provides an off-the-shelf solution for simple motor control applications, allowing users to create speed control solutions with small part counts and short development times.

Product Features
The PIC18FXX39 microcontrollers are pin- and code-compatible with Microchip's current 28- and 40-pin portfolio, allowing designers to re-use software and hardware in existing platforms, thus lowering overall development costs and time-to-market concerns.

The PIC18FXX39 MCU family features:

- Flash memory
- 2.0 – 5.5V operating voltage
- embedded single phase (open-loop) motor control kernel
- two 10-bit PWMs
- 256 bytes of data EEPROM
- 10 MIPS performance at 40MHz.
- three 16-bit timers
- 8-channel 10-bit A/D
- addressable USART module supporting RS485 and RS232
- programmable 16-level low-voltage detection module (PLVD)

Featuring In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™) technology, Microchip's PICmicro Flash devices allow the microcontrollers to be programmed after being placed in a circuit board. This offers tremendous flexibility, reduces development time and manufacturing cycles and improves time to market. The devices also support self-programming over the operating voltage range so that the user can program the device in-circuit at the user's operating voltage.

Development Tools
For development, Microchip offers:
- PIC18F2539 Motor Control Evaluation Kit
- MPLAB® In-Circuit Debugger (ICD 2) development tool
- PRO MATE® II, modular device programmer.
- MPLAB® ICD 2 in-circuit Flash programming and debugging

The PIC18FXX39 devices target a wide range of industrial, consumer and appliance applications, including vending machines, toasters/grills, dishwashers, hood fans, refrigerators, residential gate openers, bathroom exhaust fans, whirlpool tubs, convection ovens, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), ventilation fans and small pumps.

Packaging
Available packages include 28-pin SOIC, SDIP, 40-pin PDIP, and 44-lead TQFP and QFN. The PIC18FXX39 family is priced between $4.28 and $5.15 in volume manufacturing quantities depending on device, temperature range, package and operating voltage. Samples and volume-production quantities are available today. For additional information or pricing on these devices, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor or visit www.microchip.com.


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 and Bangalore, India; 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.