
PIC24F MCUs offer low-power animated display driver
CIPs are designed to operate outside the CPU for power savings.
The new PIC24F GU and GL families of MCUs feature a CIP called LCD with Autonomous Animation. The integrated LCD driver with autonomous animation allows developers to offload simple animation routines from the CPU. Animations can then be performed, even if the device is in doze, idle or sleep modes for optimal power savings. To help with the designing of these display interfaces, the new MCUs are available with MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) support. The graphical programming environment features an LCD display designer to assist with eliminating the time-consuming task of mapping the pins and segments.
“The latest family of PIC MCUs adds new hardware features that improve low power performance, code protection and reliable operation in applications across multiple segments,” said Joe Thomsen, vice president of Microchip’s MCU16 business unit. “This scalable family of devices enable applications from cloud-connected low-power IoT nodes and sensor systems to automotive, consumer and industrial automation applications and helps developers easily add displays, robustness and security to their designs.”
The new MCU families increase application security by integrating Microchip’s CodeGuard security Flash protection, which allows the segmenting of memory into boot and general segments to provide memory access restrictions. The Flash memory is configurable as One Time Programmable (OTP) through Microchip’s In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) write inhibit feature to disable any further modification of the Flash through external programmers/debuggers.
Security can be further enhanced using Microchip’s CryptoAuthentication devices as a companion chip to provide secure OTA updates and pre-provisioned cloud services. The MCUs are also supported by CryptoAuthLib, 16-bit bootloader, USB and many application libraries in MCC to reduce development time and complexity.
The PIC24F GU and GL families also feature integrated safety features to allow them to operate reliably in harsh environments through Flash Error Correction Code (ECC), Deadman Timer (DMT), Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), Fail-Safe Clock Monitor (FSCM), Configurable High-Low Voltage Detect (HLVD) and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC).
The MCU can operate in the extended temperature range up to 125 °C, are automotive AEC Q100 Grade 1 qualified and have a diagnostic library for IEC 60730 (household appliances) Class B safety standards.
The two new MCU families are supported by Microchip’s MPLAB development ecosystem including the free MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB Code Configurator. Other supporting boards include the PIC24F LCD and USB Curiosity Development Board, PIC24F LCD Curiosity Development Board, and the PIC24FJ512GU410 and PIC24FJ128GL306 General Purpose Plug-In Modules (PIMs) for the Explorer 16/32 Development Board.
More information
https://www.microchipdirect.com/product/search/all/PIC24F-GU-GL-MCUs?start=0&rows=10&mos=true
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