Welcome to this module on the PIC18FXXK20 family from Microchip. The module overviews the first 8 members of the new PIC18F K-series 8-bit low-power, low-cost high performance microcontroller family developed using Microchip’s latest processing technology. The module is 23 pages in length and last just over 15 minutes.
Microchip currently offers a wide variety of 8-bit to 16-bit microcontrollers along with digital signal controllers. These products range from the very small, low-cost 8-bit PIC10F microcontrollers all the way up to the sophisticated dsPIC DSCs with powerful high-level digital signal processing capabilities.
The PIC18F family offers Microchip’s highest performance 8-bit MCUs with a 16-bit instruction word. Flash program memory in this family is up to 128 Kbytes with packages ranging from 18 to 100pins. The RISC architecture with single instruction word execution allows for optimal performance with up to 16 MIPS. Thanks to this large Flash program memory and high performance, applications using this family can be easily developed using Microchip’s MPLAB® C18 C compiler or one of the supporting third party C compilers. The PIC18F family is further subdivided into three categories. The traditional PIC18F, the PIC18 J-series, and now, the new PIC18F K-series. Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics that distinguish each of these groups.
Each group offers different options depending on the Flash Program Memory and Performance that your application demands. The traditional PIC18F members offer Flash program memory sizes from 4 to 128 Kbytes along with operating voltages ranging from 2 to 5.5 volts. This group can perform up to 40 MHz offering 10 MIPS. Data EEPROM along with 100k write endurance and a 40 yr retention.
The PIC18F J-series members are available with Flash Program memories ranging from 32 to 128 Kbytes and an operating voltage range of 2 to 3.6 volts. This group can also operate at greater frequencies than the traditional PIC18F group offering 10 to 12 MIPS.
The new PIC18F K-series are now the highest performance members of the PIC18F family offering up to 64 MHz operation with16 MIPS. Operating range of 1.8 to 3.6 volts with 100K write endurance and 40 yr retention typical for both Flash and Data EEPROM memory. Bottom line, the K-series adds to the diversity of the PIC18F family providing you with a variety of options to meet your design requirements.
The PIC18F2XK20 and 4XK20 MCUs are born out of the PIC18F2X20 and 4X20 traditional PIC18F family members. The new K-series offers key feature enhancements. Such key features I have already mentioned include 1.8 to 3.6V operating range and higher speed operation these are offered along with power managed modes to minimize power consumption. Enhancements to traditional peripherals include individual dual rail-to-rail comparators with configurable speed option, bit address masking to the Master Synchronous Serial Port module, the 10-bit Analog-to-Digital converter now has14 selectable input channels and a 1.2V Fixed Voltage Reference is available. The Enhanced Capture/Compare Pulse-Width Modulation module offers a variety of PWM modes for a variety of bridge configurations as well as PWM steering on 4 different pins. These features and more make the PIC18F4XK20/2XK20 devices ideally suited for general-purpose control, and a broad range of low-power applications. Let’s take a closer look at these features.
A wide variety of clock sources and selection features allow for maximum performance with frequencies ranging from 31 KHz to 64 MHz while minimizing power consumption. A 4x Phase Locked Loop is provided enabling the use of a lower frequency oscillator in applications sensitive to electromagnetic interference that can be caused when using higher-frequency crystals. The PLL further enables external crystals and the internal oscillators to be driven to their highest rated frequencies. This means, 16 MIPS can be easily achieved at a 3V operating voltage.
Run, Idle and Sleep power management mode categories with a total of seven different sub-modes provide a variety of options for power conservation. Each of these modes determines which areas of the microcontroller are clocked and even at what speed. Enhancements include a reduction in Idle mode currents down to 1 uA and current reduction down to 0.1 uA in low-powered Sleep mode. Furthermore, clock switching features allow the 32 KHz, low-powered Timer1 oscillator to be used as the primary clock source. All these features make the new PIC18FXXK20 ideal for battery operated applications.
The dual comparators now feature rail-to-rail input voltages along with up to four selectable input channels for each comparator. Two internal reference voltages are available the 1.2V fixed Voltage Reference and the programmable Comparator Voltage Reference. Furthermore, the propagation delay through each comparator can be configured to speeds that will optimize power consumption.
The programmable Comparator Voltage Reference further offers the advantage of being configured for external use by off-chip devices or other on-chip inputs.
The Master Synchronous Serial Port Module serial peripheral can be operated in either I2C™ or SPI mode. I2C further offers Master, Multi-Master and Slave modes. The PIC18F2XK20 and 4XK20 further allow individual bit address masking, enabling individual communication with the master devices.
The PIC18F2XK20 and 4XK20 also enable individual communication as part of multiple slave devices in a group.
The on-chip 10-bit Analog-to-Digital converter now offers 14 selectable analog input channels including an option to use the 1.2V Fixed Voltage Reference as one of these channels. Each analog input can be individually configured for digital functionality if not used with any of the analog peripherals.
The Enhanced Capture/Compare Pulse Width Modulation module with auto shutdown and programmable dead band delay can provide PWM output on up to 4 pins with up to 10-bit resolution. Four different PWM modes are available Single,Half-Bridge and Full-Bridge Forward or Reverse PWM modes.
Individual pulse steering of the same PWM signal to any one of 4 individual output pins can be accomplished in single output mode. Additionally, the same PWM signal can now be output to multiple pins simultaneously.
Other features include optimal memory ranges up to 64 Kbytes of Flash memory and up to 3936 bytes of ram. Additionally, true Data EEPROM memory is implemented with available sizes up to 1024 bytes. The K-series provides programmable Brown-out Reset with software enable, extended WDT along with EUSART module with LIN compatibility and two-speed oscillator start-up. The PIC18F2XK20 and 4XK20 continue Microchip’s tradition providing for easy migration from earlier family members allowing your current designs to benefit from these enhanced features.
The PIC18F2XK20 and 4XK20 are fully supported by Microchip’s complete line of programmers, debuggers, in-circuit emulators and analyzers. Application firmware is easily developed using Microchip’s MPLAB® integrated development environment along with such tools as Visual Device Initializer and the aforementioned C18 and third party C compilers.
The PIC18FXXK20 Demonstration Board comes equipped with a PIC18FXXK20 MCU. Interface connections include a full complement of pushbuttons and LEDs along with a 64 x 128 display. Serial applications can be easily developed and tested using the on-board serial EEPROM or EUSART testing using Microchip’s PICkit™ Serial Analyzer. Standard debugger connectivity is provided to allow the demonstration board to be used with either Microchip’s low-cost PICkit 2 Debug Express or MPLAB® ICD 2 In-Circuit Debugger. Other features include a temperature sensor, Audio inputs and a 32 KHz crystal for low-power applications using the Timer1 oscillator.
A number of application examples are provided with the PIC18FXXK20 Demonstration Board to provide a unique out-of-the box experience. A Discrete Fourier Transform application incorporates a microphone connected to the audio input on the PIC18FXXK20 board. The audio signal generated passes through a Low-Pass filter into one of the 14 analog input channels of the 10-bit ADC. Thirty-two digitized samples of the audio signal are taken, each value transformed to the frequency domain using a Discrete Fourier Transform and then a 16 point spectral representation of the signal is displayed on the display. The high performance of the PIC18FXXK20 enables high level mathematical operations to be performed easily at faster rates. All firmware for this application is provided with the demonstration board as well as connectivity requirements.
Other demos include a Real-Time Clock application using Low-Power Timer1 as the clock source and a neat Pong game to name a few.
With the ever-increasing focus on portable applications that require reduced energy consumption and increased functionality, there is a clear need for embedded electronic intelligence that can do more with less. Microchip’s new PIC18F4XK20/2XK20 family of high-performance 8-bit microcontrollers meets these needs head-on, not just with the levels of performance, but also at a cost-effective price point. Additionally, this new family continues Microchip’s easy migration strategy, providing full code, pin-out and tool compatibility with the Company’s comprehensive portfolio of 8-bit microcontrollers. The soon to be released PIC18FXXK20 development kit, will highlight new features of the PIC18FXXK20 device as well as provide a platform for the development ofyour own original designs.
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