Microchip Introduces Low Pin Count MCU Family with I3C Support
Microchip has recently unveiled the PIC18-Q20 microcontroller family and the floating the world’s first low pin count MCU line for supporting the I3C standard. As for the new product line, it reveals Microchip’s efforts to create small and low-cost low-power MV-MCUs for embedded applications, necessary for the communication of devices with different voltages.
The PIC18-Q20 MCUs incorporate I3C hardware support, allowing them to directly interface with a wide range of I3C-compatible peripherals and sensors without needing external logic chips or voltage-level translators. I3C is poised to become increasingly important as more Internet of Things (IoT) and consumer electronics devices leverage multi-voltage communication for power efficiency and reducing pin counts. By building in native I3C support, the PIC18-Q20 MCUs remove communication barriers that previously required additional components and design effort.
This native I3C integration differentiates the PIC18-Q20 family from competing microcontroller offerings that still rely on bit-banging software implementations for I3C communication. The hardware-accelerated I3C support in these new PIC18 MCUs should allow for simpler designs, lower overall system costs, and better power usage compared to software I3C solutions. It also future-proofs devices using the PIC18-Q20 since I3C adoption is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead as the standard matures.
In addition to I3C, the PIC18-Q20 MCUs leverage a variety of Microchip’s power-saving technologies to operate from just 1.71V to 3.6V. Due to their spectacularly low power consumption and compact sizes, they find their use where small to medium IoT nodes, remote controls, sensors, and a vast array of other low-powered embedded systems. It has 16 KB to 32 KB Flash memory, 1 KB to 4 KB RAM, available I/O pins are in the range of 16-44 pins & some of the peripheral options are analog comparators, timers & USART for performing sensor interfacing & communication.
Perhaps most notably, the new PIC18-Q20 MCUs have achieved industry-leading low pin counts of just 16 or 20 pins. This extreme space efficiency is enabled by the I3C standard, which allows peripheral devices and additional memory such as serial Flash to be connected without using a microcontroller’s limited I/O pins. Compared to alternative 8-bit MCU offerings with pin counts in the 28-44 range, the PIC18-Q20 family slashes up to 50% off the total microcontroller pins needed – a major advantage for extremely compact product designs.
In summary, Microchip’s new PIC18-Q20 lineup introduces an industry first by providing hardware-accelerated I3C peripherals. This enables simple, robust multi-voltage communication without external logic ICs. When combined with the family’s ultra-low-power specifications and minuscule 16-20 pin footprints, PIC18-Q20 MCUs open up new possibilities for embedded IoT and sensing applications that demand the ultimate in size and cost reductions. By embracing the growing I3C protocol, Microchip has positioned this product family at the cutting edge of trends in connected devices that leverage multi-drop buses for flexibility and efficiency. This versatile new microcontroller offering should see strong demand from OEMs creating next-gen portable electronics and embedded systems with extreme space limitations.
FAQ
What is I3C and why is it important for this MCU family?
I3C or Inter-Integrated Circuit is a new multi-master bus standard for communication between devices operating at different voltage levels. It allows microcontrollers and peripherals running on different voltages to interconnect without needing logic-level translators or specialized interfacing ICs. I3C is expected to see growing use in IoT and electronics to improve power efficiency and reduce component counts. By including native I3C support, these MCUs can directly connect to a wide range of I3C sensors and devices without extra parts or software protocols.
How do the low pin counts of 16-20 pins compare to alternatives?
Most competing 8-bit microcontrollers currently have pin counts ranging from 28 pins up to 44 pins. By embracing I3C, these new PIC18-Q20 MCUs can achieve the industry’s lowest pin counts yet of just 16 or 20 pins. This extreme miniaturization enables 50% smaller board sizes for ultra-compact product designs where space is heavily constrained.
What memory and peripheral options are available?
The PIC18-Q20 family includes models with 16KB to 32KB of Flash program memory and 1KB to 4KB of RAM. They integrate peripherals such as analog comparators, timers, and USART serial modules suitable for sensor interfacing and communications. Pin counts range from 16 pins up to 44 pins depending on the specific part number and included peripherals.
What are the power efficiency features of these MCUs?
The PIC18-Q20 devices can operate from as little as 1.71V up to 3.6V, supporting highly energy-efficient functions down to very low voltages. Combined with their small die sizes, they provide ultralow power consumption ideal for battery-powered IoT and portable applications with long lifetimes.
