The vast majority of low-power applications require one or more of thesefeatures

The vast majority of low-power applications require one or more of thesefeatures. nanoWatt XLP Technology combines all three in a comprehensiveportfolio of devices. Whether it is extended battery life, sealed batteries, orthe integration of energy harvesting, Microchip`s 8- and 16-bit PIC MCUs withnanoWatt XLP Technology provide more freedom for designers that need theirproducts to operate longer using less power, or requiring fewer battery changes."The extremely low sleep current and numerous wake-up features of Microchip`snew nanoWatt XLP microcontrollers should be ideal for battery-operated devices,which actually spend most of the time asleep," said Tom Starnes, embeddedprocessor analyst at the semiconductor research firm Objective Analysis. "Theinterest in the market for such low-power processors, for use in consumer toindustrial applications, is really on the rise." The three new nanoWatt XLP MCU families that were announced today include thefour-member, 16-bit PIC24F16KA family, which features typical sleep currents aslow as 20 nA along with integrated EEPROM memory, and small-footprint and lowpin count (20- and 28-pin) package options. Additionally, this family enablesapplications to run for more than 20 years from a single battery. The six-memberPIC18F46J11 and the six-member PIC18F46J50 8-bit MCU families feature typicalsleep currents of less than 20 nA.

The general-purpose PIC18F46J11 MCUs provideup to 64 KB of Flash program memory and the peripheral set of a typical 64- or80-pin device in only 28- or 44-pins; while the PIC18F46J50 devices addintegrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 to enable connectivity for embedded applicationsrequiring remote field upgrades or the downloading of data. To watch an overview video on Microchip`s nanoWatt XLP Technology, please visit: http://"Through significant investment in our new nanoWatt XLP Technology, whichcombines enhanced design techniques and new features, Microchip has driven powerconsumption to new lows, surpassing the industry and becoming the new leader inlow-power microcontrollers," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip`sAdvanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. Numerous applications can benefit from the extreme low power and peripheralintegration of the nanoWatt XLP MCUs. Examples include portable andbattery-powered applications in the Consumer (sealed disposable electronics,portable electronics white goods, game controllers, digital photo frames, coffeemachines); Industrial (energy harvesting/scavenging, utility meters, securitysystems, thermostats, sprinkler timers, portable temperature controllers,remote/portable gas sensors and remote sensor networks, data logging and assettracking, sealed/harsh environment sensors); Automotive (diagnostic equipment,car alarms, key fobs); and Medical markets (home medical devices, oxygen/bioflow meters, digital thermometers, patient monitors, lifestyle/fitness monitorsand pedometers). Complete nanoWatt XLP PortfolioThe table below shows the entire nanoWatt XLP portfolio, including three new andthree existing MCU families. For a complete overview of nanoWatt XLP Technology,please visit: http:// Family NameCategory New Families PIC24F16KA 16-bit MCUs, General Purpose PIC18F46J508-bit MCUs, USBPIC18F46J118-bit MCUs, General PurposeExisting FamiliesPIC16F72X8-bit MCUs, General PurposePIC18F14K508-bit MCUs, USBPIC18F4XK208-bit MCUs, General Purpose Development ToolsOwners of the Explorer 16 development board can purchase a $25 PIC24F16KAplug-in module (part # MA240017) for development with this new 16-bit family.Likewise, owners of the PIC18 Explorer Board can purchase a $25 plug-in modulefor development with the new PIC18F46J11 general-purpose 8-bit MCUs (part #MA180023).

The new PIC18F46J50 USB 8-bit MCUs are supported by the new $45PIC18F46J50 FS USB Demo Board (part # MA180024), which also plugs into the PIC18Explorer Board. All nanoWatt XLP microcontrollers are supported by Microchip`sworld-class development tools, including the free MPLAB® IDE, the MPLAB REAL ICEemulation system, the MPLAB ICD 3 in-circuit debugger, the PICkit 3 low-costdebugger/programmer and Microchip`s free C compilers. These tools are availabletoday at http:// Availability & Pricing16-bit MCUsThe four PIC24F16KA 16-bit family members are available now for general samplingand volume production, with prices starting at $1.38 each in 10,000 unitquantities. The 20-pin package options for the PIC24F08KA101 and PIC24F16KA101MCUs are: QFN, SSOP, SOIC and PDIP.