8 bit pic microcontrollers family introduction and features

Introduction to 8 bit pic microcontrollers: In this article, I will explain 8 bit pic microcontrollers features and their applications. Microchip Technology: Why microchip? First of all, microchip provides an extensive product portfolio to meet the needs of hundreds of diverse customers applications worldwide. Microchip portfolio includes 8, 16 and 32 bit PIC. Microcontrollers and  dsPIC digital signal controllers along with a broad line of an analog interface, memory, and wireless solutions. So whether you are designing a simple application or a complex and highly intricate design microchip likely has the perfect solution for your embedded design needs. Secondly, to offer customers a low-risk developer environment PIC microcontroller offers to seem less migration within the complete range of products.

The 8 bit PIC microcontroller family is pin compatible within a given pin count as well as co-compatible between architectures. Been able to migrate easily between various PIC MCU’S, allows flexibility to react to changing designer requirements and feature enhancements. This allows you to maximize reuse for future developments and preserve your investment in hardware, software, and tools. All of this is further enhanced by microchips commitment to customer satisfaction. From a world class customer support and training to as wide product availability and shortest times in the industry. It is this outstanding level of technical support along with dependable delivery and product quality that makes microchip the supplier of choice for embedded designers.

8 bit pic microcontrollers applications

In target markets, 8 bit PIC microcontrollers are most suited for wide variety of applications. From control logic to fully integrated systems involving USB, the internet, CAN, LCD and touch sensing. Basically anything with a sensor, user interface controller display along with some smart intelligence to it. Applications using 8 bit PIC microcontroller today include home appliances such as smart energy appliances, refrigerators, blenders because of consumer appliances such as phone chargers, electric shavers, vacuum cleaners. Industrial systems such as electronic door locks, cargo tracking, lighting and each bag control. Automotive such as keyless entry, power seats, and garage door opener. Medical devices such as diagnostic devices, portable medical meters and so on.

Shown here is microchips PIC microcontroller and DS PIC digital signal controller family road map. As you can see they are categorized as 8,16,32 bit product families which translate directly through micro controllers associated data memory width. Furthermore note that as we move up into the right of this road map, products will have more memory along with increased performance and more advanced functionality.

8 bit pic microcontrollers architecture

So let’s take a closer look at the various 8 bit PIC micro controller architectures within microchips portfolio. At a high-level microchip has four 8 bit architectures which follow a wide range of pricing and performance options. The low cost and small size Baseline family contain PIC 10, sum PIC 10, sum PIC 12 devices. The midrange family brings optimal cost performance ratio, featuring members of the PIC 12 and PIC 16 families. The enhanced mid-range family expands on the mid-range devices adding more performance and memory at a cost effective price point. These devices will be identified by the one and three subsequent ages following the F and the product identification number. PIC 18 devices feature the highest performing members in the PIC 18 members adding advanced peripherals such as the internet, USB, CAN and real time clock calendar. Microchip 8-bit family features product in a variety of packages with pin counting from 6 to 100 pins providing flexibility to meet most customers design and space requirements.

Let’s now take a look at each of the four 8 bit micro controller architectures in more detail

Baseline devices utilize a 12 bit program work architecture enable the most cost effective product solution. Now embedded developers can use micro controllers and applications where they have never been used before. Baseline PIC micro controllers provide improvising structure that makes them newly disposable with font factors as smallest 2 by 3 millimeters they can easily be implemented into the most space constraint design. This micro controller family includes an internal oscillator, a comparator, ADD  and data memory for data logging giving engineers the ability to add smarts in a variety of internal applications. Its low cost and easy implementation can also help designers to replace multiple

Its low cost and easy implementation can also help designers to replace multiple discrete components with an integrated MCU solutions resulting in additional savings and port space. The baseline family of micro controllers has a long history. Started from 16C54 microchips first PIC micro controller and still continues to this day. There are a lot of first in this family. The first PIC micro controller from microchip. The first ever 8 pin microcontroller. The PIC 12C5O8 and 5O9. The first ever 6 pins microcontroller in the SOT_23 package. Today these products are all available on flash program memory along with the recent addition of peripherals to the architecture. We have also expanded to higher pin count at 40 pins with a previous high was 28 pin for the family. As previously mentioned baseline architecture is based on 12 bit instruction set that is easy to learn and get started with. This family also offers a smallest yet cost effective packages around such as the PIC 10F.

Midrange 8 bit pic microcontrollers

Midrange devices feature a 14 bit program word architecture and are available at 8 to 64 pin packages. These micro controllers provide 1.8 to 5.5 word operation, speeds up to 20 MHz and are up handling an 8 level deep stack and are available on a variety of peripherals and memory configuration. They are capable of achieving up to 5 macs of performance and some of the newer midrange products also feature nano wide xlp. Microchips industrially leads low power technology with low sleep and dynamic current consumption. These MCU‘s are highly suited for energy efficiency and battery powered applications. Microchip continues to increase functionality and performance of its products with each successor generation providing features that help simplify design of embedded control system. The midrange family shares several features that make designing control architectures from multidimensional inner-connected systems easier. The 8 pin 3 by 3 mm DFN, 28 pin 4 by 4 mm UQFN, 40 pin 5 by 5 mm UQFM allow designers to squeeze high level of performance into space constraint applications.