Microchip Technology (News - Alert) Inc. has announced that it added integrated USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) functionality to its 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller family to enable design engineers to cost-effectively offer advanced USB connectivity in their end products.

Arizona-based Microchip provides microcontroller and analog semiconductors capable of low-risk product development, and which are cost effective and reduce time to market for various applications.

The PIC32 microcontroller family offers better performance and memory to embedded designers who can maintain pin, peripheral and software compatibility with Microchip’s 16-bit microcontroller and DSC families. Microchip also offers MPLAB IDE, which is a complete portfolio of 8, 16 and 32-bit devices for support by a single Integrated Development Environment.

Patrick Johnson, director of Microchip’s High Performance Microcontroller Division said, “PIC MCUs have long been the 8-bit microcontroller of choice for embedded USB applications. The addition of USB OTG functionally to the PIC32 family builds on this track record by offering new levels of connectivity, performance and system capabilities to embedded application designers.”

The PIC32 family of microcontrollers are used in embedded applications like security systems, power meters, smart card and bar code readers. In medicine they are used in patient monitors, blood analyzers and as vehicle data loggers, radios and tachometers in automotives.

In communication they are used in media network controllers and GSM back-up controllers. Besides they find wide applications in appliances like coffee makers, washing machines, dishwashers etc. They also cater to consumer needs like in GPS modules, home automation and MP3 player interface or adaptors.

Microchip said that the PIC32 USB Starter Kit comes with the USB-powered MCU board, the MPLAB IDE and MPLAB C32 C complier, documentation, sample projects with tutorials, schematics and 16-bit compatible peripheral libraries required by developers.


Shamila Janakiraman is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers whitepapers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is IP Enabled Contact Centres , brought to you by Avaya (News - Alert).