For the first time, Microchip introduced a new PIC18 family of devices with kern-independent peripherals

     Microchip Technology announced the introduction of the PIC18F "K40" series of microcontrollers (MCUS). The series includes a total of 10 new devices with flash memory capacities ranging from 16 KB to 128 KB and package options covering 28-64 pins. The new 8-bit MCU device achieves cost optimization and is the first PIC18 product family to feature Microchip's acclaimed, kern-independent peripherals (CIP).

     With CIP, developers can rely on the hardware alone to complete the task, while the CPU can be freed up to handle other tasks or go to sleep. This both reduces power consumption and allows for deterministic response times, and also reduces the time required for firmware development and validation. The PIC18F "K40" series features a Compute ADC(ADC2) - an intelligent, kern-independent analog-to-digital converter that controls the data acquisition and signal analysis functions required for sensor interface applications such as capacitive touch sensing.

     The new PIC18F "K40" product builds on the successful design of the traditional PIC18F "K20" series with the addition of CIP. The new device is extremely cost-effective and offers up to 128 KB of flash memory, 5V operating voltage, EEPROM and a large number of integrated peripherals. The new device is equipped with complete kernel-independent peripherals for safety-critical applications (CRC/memory scan, window watchdog timer, and hardware limit timer), up to seven hardware PWM and multiple communication interfaces. In addition, the PIC18 "K40" series offers intelligent analog peripherals including zero cross detection (ZCD), an on-chip comparator, and ADC2. ADC2 is responsible for signal analysis functions such as averaging, filtering, and oversampling, as well as automatic threshold comparison independent of the CPU.

     The new devices are suitable for a wide range of applications and market segments, including touch sensing, industrial control, consumer electronics, automotive, and the Internet of Things (IoT). "Microchip is committed to continuing to expand its 8-bit portfolio with new on-chip peripherals for PIC® and AVR® architectures," said Steve Drehobl, vice president of Microchip's 8-bit MCU division. "The PIC18F 'K40' family combines high-capacity storage, kern-independent peripherals, and Microchip's MPLAB® code configurator (MCC) to significantly reduce product development time and improve system performance."