6
New Generation
in Digital-Power
Conversion
11
Smart and
Flexible USB
19
MAY/JUN 2015
A MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC. PUBLICATION
Simulation for
Real-World
Projects
MAY/JUN 2015
A MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC. PUBLICATION
contents
Cover Story
4 Passing a Major Milestone
Continuing Deployments Lead to Microchip’s
Delivery of the 25 Millionth MOST50 Intelligent
Network Interface Controller
new products
6 A New Generation in Digital
Power Conversion
New dsPIC33EP “GS” Family is Optimized for
Digital Power Applications
8 Tame Your Power-Hungry Design
MCP39F511 Power Monitoring IC
Supports Industry Effort to Improve Power
Management Schemes
9 High-Precision Measurement
New Stand-Alone, High-Speed ADCs Feature
High-Integration, Low-Power 14-/12-bit
200 Msps Sampling Rate
10 Taking Ethernet to the Next Level
TECHNOLOGY
13
The Music Zone
DESIGN CORNER
16
17
19
Interacting with the World of Art
Bluetooth® Connectivity Made Easy
Simulation for Real-World Projects
20
etting the Most Out of
G
Flowcode Software
21
Mobile Computing in the Lab
22
A Collage of Creative Designs
DEV TOOL DEALS
14
Just the Right Touch of Savings
FEATURED VIDEO
Microchip Introduces EtherCAT® Slave Controller
with Integrated PHYs for Industrial Ethernet and
Internet of Things Applications
11 Smart and Flexible USB
USB5734 and USB5744 Smart Hubs with
FlexConnect Reduce System BOM and
Design Complexity
PIC32 Bluetooth® Starter Kit
The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, dsPIC, FlashFlex, KEELOQ, KEELOQ logo, MOST, MPLAB, mTouch, PIC, PICmicro, PICSTART, PIC32 logo, rfPIC, SST, SST Logo, SuperFlash and UNI/O are
registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. FilterLab, Hampshire, HI-TECH C, Linear Active Thermistor, MTP, SEEVAL and The Embedded Control Solutions Company
are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. Silicon Storage Technology is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in other countries.
Analog-for-the-Digital Age, Application Maestro, BodyCom, chipKIT, chipKIT logo, CodeGuard, dsPICDEM, dsPICDEM.net, dsPICworks, dsSPEAK, ECAN, ECONOMONITOR, FanSense, HI-TIDE, In Circuit Serial
Programming, ICSP, Mindi, MiWi, MPASM, MPF, MPLAB Certified logo, MPLIB, MPLINK, Omniscient Code Generation, PICC, PICC-18, PICDEM, PICDEM.net, PICkit, PICtail, REAL ICE, rfLAB, Select Mode, SQI, Serial
Quad I/O, Total Endurance, TSHARC, UniWinDriver, WiperLock, ZENA and Z-Scale are trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries.
SQTP is a service mark of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. GestIC and ULPP are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Germany II GmbH & Co. & KG, a subsidiary of Microchip Technology
Inc., in other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies. © 2015, Microchip Technology Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.
2
Number One Again
F
our years ago, it took the merger of three Japanese semiconductor giants—
NEC, Hitachi and Mitsubishi in the form of Renesas—to remove Microchip from
the leadership position it held at that time in the 8-bit microcontroller (MCU)
market. Since then, we have worked relentlessly to gain market share and take
back that standing. We are now pleased to report that—thanks to the support of our
many customers—Microchip has regained the number-one position for worldwide
8-bit MCU revenue, according to Gartner’s 2014 rankings.
While many MCU vendors have deemphasized their 8-bit offerings in recent years,
Microchip has continued in its unwavering commitment to and innovation in its 8-bit
PIC® MCU product line. We offer a large portfolio of product families with varying
levels of intelligent integration, including a host of Core Independent Peripherals and
Intelligent Analog peripherals, to provide you with the flexibility to create innovative
products across a broad range of applications. Our new 8-bit PIC Microcontroller
Peripheral Integration Quick Reference Guide can assist you with selecting the
right device for your project.
The report also indicates that Microchip continues to grow market share in all
three of our MCU product lines. In the 16-bit MCU market, Microchip was the
fastest-growing supplier among the top 10 in 2014. Our 32-bit MCUs broke into
the top 10 ranking of 32-bit MCU suppliers for the first time in 2014. Microchip
remains the only company to support all its standard MCUs and DSCs from a single
integrated development environment, MPLAB® X IDE.
What does this news mean to you? It means that we are committed to providing you
with the best devices, value and support for your embedded designs, both now and
well into the future. We hope our success will help ensure your success.
A MICROCHIP T ECHNOLOGY INC. P UBLICATION
6
New Generation
in Digital-Power
Conversion
11
Smart and
Flexible USB
19
MAY/JUN 2015
EDITOR’S NOTE
Simulation for
Real-World
Projects
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3
COVER STORY
PASSING
A MAJOR
MILESTONE
Continuing Deployments Lead to Microchip’s
Delivery of the 25 Millionth MOST50 Intelligent
Network Interface Controller
Ongoing Global Acceptance of MOST® Networking
Technology Leads to Use by Major Car Makers in
Both Volume and Luxury Vehicle Platforms
T
o date, more than 170 million MOST devices have
been installed in 184 car models. For many years,
all major car makers have successfully implemented MOST technology in their multi-node infotainment
networking systems, as it provides a field-proven, lowrisk, whole-system solution. It offers high-bandwidth
transport and streaming of audio, packet/Internet
Protocol (IP) and control data with zero processor
overhead and proven electromagnetic-compatibility
(EMC) behavior. Models employing MOST technology
received exceptional results in the latest Consumer
Reports vehicle reliability and JD Powers and Associates vehicle dependability survey rankings, where
in-vehicle technology performance has become a
larger factor in the vehicle’s overall rating.
(continued on page 5)
4
COVER STORY
Enabling More Functionality
with MOST150
MOST® technology has been successfully implemented in
multi-node infotainment networking systems
General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corporation continue
to deploy Microchip’s MOST50 devices in their vehicles’ infotainment systems. Their growing usage over the years recently
resulted in the shipment of Microchip’s 25 millionth MOST50
Intelligent Network Interface Controller (INIC). This milestone
demonstrates the continuing global acceptance of MOST networking technology in both volume and luxury vehicle platforms.
GM and Toyota’s networks utilize Microchip’s MOST50 INICs,
featuring an Electrical Physical Layer (ePHY) that is optimized
for use with Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) copper wire. The
result is a system that can predictably and efficiently transport
video, audio, packet and control data throughout the vehicle
without time-synchronization protocols, using dedicated channels for minimal processor overhead in the main infotainment
control unit processors.
The remote-connection-management and remote-control
capabilities of all MOST INICs enable further options, including the ability to build slim (processor-less) network nodes.
MOST INICs also provide industry-standard hardware interfaces to processor and peripheral devices for the efficient
routing of audio, video and packet data, which greatly simplifies module designs. End users can immediately access
the vehicle’s infotainment system, due to the MOST INIC’s
ultra-fast network start-up feature.
AUDI AG is using MOST technology to network the Audi
virtual cockpit system in its new TT Models. Specifically, it is
deploying the OS81118 MOST150 Intelligent Network Interface
Controller (INIC), which provides 150 Mbps performance, supports all MOST network data types and includes a Hi-Speed
USB 2.0 interface (PHY/HSIC) to seamlessly connect with the
virtual cockpit’s System-on-Chip processor. The EMC performance is particularly good when combined with the optical
physical layer that is utilized in the new Audi TT models. The
MOST150 standard offers dedicated data channels with dedicated, application-specific hardware interfaces to simplify
communication system designs and significantly reduce MCU
software overhead.
After many years of using Microchip’s MOST25 INICs, when the
Volvo Car Group needed to enable its latest infotainment
systems with the ability to carry Ethernet packets, MOST150
was a natural choice. In addition to all of its other features, it is
the first and only standard to provide a proven, automotive-ready
physical layer for Ethernet packet transport inside cars in accordance with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specifications. As a result,
MOST150 has been deployed in the all-new Volvo XC90 model.
Microchip is a one-stop
shop for approved
MOST® solutions.
On the leading edge of the latest innovations in MOST
technology, Microchip is the one-stop shop for approved
MOST solutions. Its combination of highly integrated
mixed-signal integrated circuits and real-time, object-oriented
network management software provide the resources needed
to implement a complete MOST system design. Leveraging
the extensive knowledge and experience gained through many
years of product design and development, many of Microchip’s
solutions support all three speed grades of MOST technology.
For more information, visit the MOST Technology area of our
website or contact your nearest Microchip sales office.
5
A New Generation
in Digital Power
Conversion
NEW PRODUCTS
New dsPIC33EP “GS” Family is Optimized for
Digital Power Applications
Featuring Higher Performance, More Integration,
Lower Power, Smaller Footprints and Live
Update Capability
W
ould you like to improve the energy efficiency of
your power supply design? Adoption of our existing
dsPIC33 families of Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs)
has been outstanding, with global design wins in a wide range of
power-conversion products. The new, 14-member dsPIC33EP
“GS” family builds upon that success by offering more performance and integrated features, allowing higher efficieny and
more compact form factors in next-generation designs.
The dsPIC33EP “GS” family delivers the performance needed
to implement more sophisticated nonlinear, predictive and
adaptive control algorithms at higher switching frequencies.
These advanced algorithms enable power supply designs that
are more energy efficient and have better power supply specifications. Higher switching frequencies enable the development
of physically smaller power supplies that offer higher densities
Achieve higher efficiency and a more compact form factor in your
design using the dsPIC33EP “GS” family
and lower costs. Compared with the previous generation of
DSCs, the new dsPIC33EP “GS” devices provide less than half
the latency when used in a three-pole three-zero compensator,
and consume up to 80% less power in any application.
One of the advanced features of this family is the Live Update
Flash capability, which is especially helpful for high-availability
or “always-on” systems. Live Update can be used to change
the firmware of an operating power supply, including the
active compensator calculation code, while maintaining
continuous regulation.
Other key features include up to five 12-bit ADCs with as
many as 22 ADC inputs, providing total throughput of 16 Mega
samples per second (Msps) with a 300 ns ADC latency. For
higher-precision designs, the dsPIC33EP “GS” devices include
12-bit DACs for each of the four analog comparators. The two
on-chip programmable gain amplifiers can be used for current
sensing and other precision measurements. Including these
advanced analog amplifiers on the device reduces the number
of external components required, thereby saving cost and
board space. Variants from this new digital-power-optimized
DSC family are available in an industry’s smallest, 4 × 4 mm
μQFN package for space-constrained designs.
These features, combined with the overall high performance,
make the dsPIC33EP “GS” family well suited for a wide range of
applications, including computer and telecommunications (AC/
DC and DC/DC power supplies), industrial (solar inverters, LED
lighting, HID lighting, battery chargers, projectors and welders)
and automotive (LED and HID headlights, DC/DC converters),
among others.
(continued on page 7)
6
Development Support
The dsPIC33EP “GS” family is supported by Microchip’s
MPLAB® Starter Kit for Digital Power (DM330017-2), which
allows you to explore using the new dsPIC33EP “GS” family in
popular digital power-conversion topologies. Our new Digital
Compensator Design Tool helps you calculate the optimum
compensator coefficients required to maximize the performance
of your design. This free tool, combined with Microchip’s compensator software libraries and many royalty-free dsPIC33
reference designs, makes it easier than ever to design digital
power-conversion applications.
NEW PRODUCTS
The 14 dsPIC33EP “GS” family members are available for
sampling and volume production in various packages, from
28 to 64 pins. They can be ordered from microchipDIRECT or
from Microchip’s worldwide distribution network.
7
Tame Your PowerHungry Design
NEW PRODUCTS
MCP39F511 Power Monitoring IC Supports Industry
Effort to Improve Power Management Schemes
Adds Advanced Features for High-Accuracy Power
Measurement in Commercial and Industrial Designs
D
esigners of next-generation applications such as data
centers and advanced applications such as smart energy
and the growing Internet of Things know that managing
power consumption is of paramount importance. Based on
feedback from our customers, we recently introduced a new
member to our portfolio of power-monitoring ICs that incorporates the most requested features to allow you to better manage
your power-hungry designs.
The MCP39F511 is a highly integrated and accurate
single-phase power-monitoring IC, designed for the real-time
measurement of AC power. It combines the most popular
power calculations with unique advanced features, making it
ideal for use in high-performance commercial and industrial
products such as lighting and heating systems, smart plugs,
power meters and AC/DC power supplies.
To address industry requirements for better accuracy across
current loads, additional power calculations, and event
monitoring of various power conditions, the MCP39F511
power-monitoring IC provides all of the popular standard power
calculations combined with advanced features. The import and
export of active energy accumulation, four-quadrant reactive
energy accumulation, zero-crossing detection and dedicated
Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) output have now been integrated on-chip, along with the ability to measure active, reactive
and apparent power, Root-Mean-Squared (RMS) current and
RMS voltage, line frequency and power factor.
Allowing for more accurate power measurements, which is
critical to higher-performance designs, this new device is
capable of just 0.1 % error across a wide 4000:1 dynamic range.
Additionally, its 512 bytes of EEPROM allow operating-condition
storage. The MCP39F511 also includes two 24-bit delta-sigma
ADCs with 94.5 dB of SINAD performance, a 16-bit calculation
engine, and a flexible two-wire interface. A low-drift voltage
reference, in addition to an internal oscillator, is integrated to
reduce implementation costs. This unique combination of features and performance allows you to add highly accurate power-monitoring functions to your end applications with minimal
firmware development, speeding development time.
Development Support
The MCP39F511 is supported by the MCP39F511 Power
Monitor Demonstration Board (ADM00667).
The MCP39F511 is a highly integrated and accurate single-phase
power-monitoring IC
Visit microchipDIRECT or contact your local Microchip
sales office to order samples or production quantities of
the MCP39F511.
8
High-Precision
Measurement
NEW PRODUCTS
New Stand-Alone, High-Speed ADCs Feature
High-Integration, Low-Power 14-/12-bit,
200 Msps Sampling Rate
MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 Families
Provide High Integration of Digital Processing
Functions in 124-lead VTLA Packages
L
eaping past existing solutions, the latest additions
to Microchip’s portfolio of A/D converters offer an
industry-leading integration of digital processing functions. The MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 families also
feature 12- and 14-bit pipelined Analog-to-Digital Converters
(ADCs) with a maximum sampling rate of 200 Mega samples
per second (Msps). The 12- and 14-bit devices offer high performance of over 67 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and over
96 dB Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR). This enables
high-precision measurements of fast input signals.
Targeted for applications in the communications markets such
as base stations, test equipment, and IF receivers, among
others, these families of ADCs operate at very-low-power consumption of 338 mW at 200 Msps including LVDS digital I/O for
the 12-bit devices and 348 mW for the 14-bit devices. Lower
power-saving modes are available at 80 mW for standby and
33 mW for shutdown.
The MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 include various
digital processing features that can simplify your system
design, cost and power usage. These families also include
decimation filters for improved SNR and phase, offset and gain
adjustment. Data is available through the serial DDR LVDS or
parallel CMOS interface and configured via SPI. An integrated digital down-converter is included in the MCP37DX0-200
family, making it ideal for communications applications. The
12-bit devices include an integrated noise-shaping requantizer
which enables users to lower the noise within a given band of
interest for improved accuracy and performance.
Development Support
The MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 are supported
by the MCP37XX0-200 14-bit 200 Msps VTLA Evaluation
Board (ADM00652), and MCP37XXX High-Speed ADC Data
Capture Card (ADM00506).
The MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 families are available
now for sampling and volume production and can be ordered
from microchipDIRECT or from Microchip’s worldwide
distribution network.
The MCP37DX0-200 and MCP372X0-200 include various digital
processing features that can simplify your system design, cost
and power usage
9
Taking Ethernet
to the Next Level
NEW PRODUCTS
Microchip Introduces EtherCAT® Slave Controller with
Integrated PHYs for Industrial Ethernet and Internet of
Things Applications
LAN9252 EtherCAT Controller Supports Multiple
Interfaces, Offering Flexibility in Selecting a
Cost-Effective Microcontroller
T
echnology research firm ARC Advisory Group is
forecasting Ethernet’s double-digit growth for use in
industrial networks, partly fueled by applications in the
emerging Internet of Things (IoT) segment. The EtherCAT standard is a proven and robust industrial communication protocol
that offers “on-the-fly” processing and use of standard Ethernet
cabling. Its market presence is expanding to meet a variety of
these emerging applications.
Microchip has a history of supporting the very-long product
life cycles of the industrial market and offering leading-edge
Ethernet devices to ensure our customers have a reliable partner.
To address the high level of integration and cost optimization
required for current and future industrial applications, we
recently introduced the highly integrated LAN9252 standalone EtherCAT slave controller. This device offers dual 10/100
Ethernet transceivers that support both fiber and copper. The
LAN9252 also supports traditional Host Bus and SPI/SQI™
communication, along with stand-alone digital I/O interfaces,
providing you with the flexibility to select from a wide range
of microcontrollers when implementing the real-time EtherCAT
communications standard.
Fully compliant with the EtherCAT standard and interoperable
with all EtherCAT systems, the LAN9252 EtherCAT slave
controller includes 4 KB of Dual-Port RAM (DPRAM) and three
Fieldbus Memory Management Units (FMMUs). The LAN9252
also features cable diagnostics support that allows field service
technicians to rapidly and effectively diagnose line faults and
provides for fiber connectivity.
Designed to reduce system complexity and cost, the LAN9252
EtherCAT slave controller will take communication and
connectivity in embedded industrial designs to the next level.
It enables you to use EtherCAT technology in a wide range of
factory-automation, process-control, motor/motion-control and
IoT applications.
Development Support
To enable development with the LAN9252, two evaluation
boards supporting various system architectures are available.
The LAN9252 EtherCAT Slave Controller Evaluation Kit with
DIG-IO PDI Interface (EVB-LAN9252-DIGIO) demonstrates
how to interface to the LAN9252 through basic input/output
connections. The LAN9252 EtherCAT Slave Controller
Evaluation Kit with HBI PDI Interface (EVB-LAN9252-HBI)
demonstrates how to develop your EtherCAT platform using
microcontrollers such as the 32-bit PIC32MX family via different
host bus interfaces. A Software Development Kit (SDK) is also
available to help you quickly become familiar with the LAN9252,
enabling you to immediately begin device evaluation and
building solutions for your application.
The LAN9252 is available in commercial, industrial and
extended industrial temperature ranges, in low pin count and
small body size QFN and QFP-EP packages. It can be ordered
from microchipDIRECT or from Microchip’s worldwide
distribution network.
10
Smart and
Flexible USB
NEW PRODUCTS
USB5734 and USB5744 Smart Hubs with FlexConnect
Reduce System BOM and Design Complexity
Enabling New Functionality for Applications Using
USB 3.1 Gen1 Hubs
A
smart hub is a USB hub that integrates system-level
functions that are typically associated with a separate microcontroller or processor. The USB5734 and
USB5744 are the first USB 3.1 Gen1 smart hubs to enable host
and device port swapping, I/O bridging and various other serial
communication interfaces. They feature an integrated microcontroller that delivers new functionality to USB hubs that are
used in a wide range of applications in the computing, embedded, medical, industrial and networking markets.
Building on three generations of successful USB 3.0 hubs,
the USB5734/44 family enables the upstream host controller
to communicate to numerous types of external peripherals
beyond the USB connection through direct bridging from USB
to I2C™, SPI, UART and GPIO interfaces. This integrated functionality can greatly reduce the complexity of system design by
eliminating the need for an additional external microcontroller,
while providing improved control from the USB host hardware. The devices in this family are USB-IF logo certified (TID
330000058) and feature best-in-class signal integrity, enabling
more robust PCB designs and reducing sensitivities to cable,
connector and layout variations.
Microchip’s patented FlexConnect technology provides the
USB5734 Smart Hub with the unique ability to dynamically
swap between a USB host and a USB device through hardware and/or software system commands, giving the new USB
host access to downstream resources. This same FlexConnect
technology can also switch common downstream resources
between two different USB hosts. Incorporating FlexConnect
into a system simplifies the overall software requirements of the
primary host, as class drivers and application software stay local
to the device-turned-host. You can easily configure ports and
choose application settings with low-cost resistor bootstraps.
If more advanced functionality is required, the USB5734/44 can
be configured and programmed with Microchip’s ProTouch2
configuration tool.
Examples of end applications include HDTV, tablets, notebooks, eReaders, cameras, docking stations, monitors, handheld devices, point-of-sale equipment, ATMs, set-top boxes,
break-out boxes, motion sensors, among others. Available in
a 56-pin, 7 × 7 mm package, the USB5744 is the industry’s
smallest USB 3.1 Gen1 hub for applications where board space
is important.
The USB5734 and USB5744 feature an integrated microcontroller
that enables new functionality for USB hubs
(continued on page 12)
11
Development Support
The USB5734 and USB5744 are supported by the USB 3.1
Gen1 Controller Hub Evaluation Board (EVB-USB5734) and
USB 3.1 Gen1 Small Form Factor Controller Hub Evaluation
Board (EVB-USB5744). The EVB-USB5734 includes mezzanine
cards that can be used as preset application configurations for
easy testing and development of a USB5734 system.
NEW PRODUCTS
The USB5734 comes in a 64-pin QFN (9 × 9 mm) package and
the USB5744 comes in a 56-pin QFN (7 × 7 mm) package.
Both devices are available for sampling and production
from microchipDIRECT or from Microchip’s worldwide
distribution network.
12
The Music Zone
TECHNOLOGY
Microchip Releases New Multizone Technology for
Whole-Home-Audio and Multi-Room Applications
Based on the JukeBlox® Platform
Accompanied by New iOS®/Android™ App for
Easy Setup and Control
W
hole-home audio and multi-room audio systems allow
consumers to group speakers into a zone to play back
a common audio stream. Consumers can create multiple zones, each with their own audio streams. For example,
pop music can be streamed to a pair of patio speakers while the
children play outside, and at the same time soothing classical
music can be streamed to four speakers downstairs as dinner
is being prepared.
in a zone to connect with the access point, thereby eliminating
common problems associated with overloading access points.
Bypassing the access point also reduces the RF bandwidth
consumed by half, resulting in increased streaming quality
and/or the ability to add more speakers in a zone. The addition
of Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) to Wi-Fi Direct reduces sourceto-zone speaker latency and packet loss, resulting in tightly
synchronized audio playback with minimal audio drops.
Developed for use in these types of applications, JB Multizone 2.0
is the second generation multizone audio technology based on
the JukeBlox® 4 wireless audio platform. The JukeBlox platform incorporates advanced wireless networking technology,
allowing developers of consumer audio products to create a
first-class listening experience.
JB App is a complete mobile app that enables OEMs to quickly
deploy a complete whole-home-audio solution without having
to manage an app development project. OEMs can choose
between source code for custom app development or simply
rebrand the app for release to consumers. Consumers use the
JB App to create and modify zones, select audio sources and
easily connect the speaker to the local Wi-Fi network. JB App
source code is available at no charge and supports both iOS®
and Android™ platforms.
The JB Multizone feature enables tightly synchronized and highly
robust audio streaming to multiple speakers in conjunction with
the JB App, a turnkey mobile app that enables easy setup and
operation of the wireless speaker. It utilizes advanced technology to reduce audio drops found in traditional Wi-Fi® streaming
applications. Wi-Fi Direct eliminates the need for each speaker
For additional information on adding JukeBlox wireless
technology to your audio product, contact any Microchip
sales representative.
Streaming audio with the JukeBlox® 4 platform
13
Just the Right
Touch of Savings
DEV TOOL DEALS
C
reating innovative user interfaces is easy with our touch
and input sensing solutions. Look through our June Dev
Tool Deals to find some special items that will help you
get started with adding touch sensing, multimedia capabilities
and remote control to your design. To take advantage of these
special sale prices, go to www.microchipdirect.com and add
the item to your cart. Add the coupon code during checkout.
These are limited-time offers so act quickly to get yours while
the deals are still available and supplies last.
Remote Control
Demonstration Board with
ZENA™ Wireless Adapter
(DM240315-2)
microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1524
Integrating graphics, mTouch® technology,
USB and RF4CE capabilities into a single
demonstration platform, the Remote Control
Demo Board makes it easy to create products
that include a touch screen and advanced
graphics. It contains a PIC24FJ256DA210
MCU, 3.5" Graphical TFT LCD with resistive
touch screen, capacitive touch keys with
plastic overlay, MRF24J40 2.4 GHz transceiver
and ZENA wireless adapter. Save almost $100
off the regular price during June.
CAP1188 Evaluation Kit
(DM160222)
microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1521
You can create a variety of aesthetically pleasing,
low-cost and robust touch interfaces with the
CAP11XX family of turnkey capacitive touch
sensors. On sale for almost $30 off the regular
price, the CAP1188 Evaluation Kit offers an
easy platform for evaluating and developing your
capacitive touch sense applications. Its Graphical User Interface allows you to configure the
capacitive touch controller and the LED drivers.
Order yours today!
CAP1298 Evaluation Kit (DM160223)
microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1522
The CAP1298 Evaluation Kit provides an easy platform for evaluating and
developing a variety of capacitive touch sense and proximity applications
using the CAP12XX family. The Graphical User Interface allows you to analyze
data and easily configure the controller. It’s on sale for just $39.99, so take
advantage of this special price now.
(continued on page 15)
14
DEV TOOL DEALS
Multimedia Expansion Board (DM320005)
microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1523
The Multimedia Expansion Board offers a number of features to help
you develop impressive user interfaces, including a 3.2" color TFT touch
screen display and an on-board FCC-certified Wi-Fi® module. It also comes
with a 24-bit stereo audio codec, a three-axis accelerometer, a joystick
and a microSD™ memory card slot. It interfaces to any PIC32 Starter Kit
(required), allowing you to choose the device family that works best for you.
Save over 25% and get yours today for $179.99.
15
Interacting with
the World of Art
DESIGN CORNER
Meural ‘Digital Canvas’ with GestIC® Technology Offers a User-Friendly
Art Discovery Platform to Enhance Home Décor
Contributed by Meural
P
ersonalizing and decorating one’s living space can be
very frustrating. Not only does it require setting aside
time and personal bandwidth, it also can involve a significant cost factor and physical space limitations, especially in
an urban dwelling. Meural, a next-generation wall décor platform, has been designed to fundamentally change how people
personalize their most intimate surroundings.
Unlike existing wall décor offerings, the Meural ‘digital canvas’
provides a personal and responsive means for people to instantly alter their home décor on a day-to-day basis. Meural’s chic
and modern design—a meticulously engineered matte LCD
display encased by a beautifully handcrafted maple wooden
frame—is the perfect blend of top-notch industrial design and
technology. The result is an entirely new type of home furnishing
product that is as beautiful as it is purposeful.
Meural has partnered with museums, galleries, large image
libraries and individual artists to deliver the widest variety of
content with which to curate your walls. You can explore these
images on the Meural website via a smartphone or computer,
select the images and galleries you would like to view, and then
download them to the frame via Wi-Fi®. You can also upload
your own artwork and photography to the Meural website and
display it on your frame.
Realizing that people wanted to interact with art but were hesitant
to actually touch it, Meural’s designers looked for a no-touch
solution to allow users to control the frame. The gesture-activated
display is powered by Microchip’s GestIC technology, allowing
you to change your art, learn more about each piece and switch
over to different galleries with just a swipe of your hand.
Currently in pre-order, Meural will ship in the Fall of 2015. For
more information visit Meural at www.meural.com.
Explore and download images from the Meural website and
display them on your frame
16
DESIGN CORNER
Bluetooth Connectivity Made Easy
®
Boost Your Product Development with Low-Cost PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit
A
dd all the benefits of Bluetooth communications to your
product design. The full-featured, yet low-cost, PIC32
Bluetooth Starter Kit (DM320018) offers all you need
to quickly and easily develop wireless, Bluetooth-enabled
products for the consumer, medical and industrial markets.
At the heart of the Bluetooth Starter Kit is a 32-bit
PIC32MX270F256D microcontroller (MCU) which handles the
main processing, running at 83 DMIPS and offering 256 KB
Flash and 64 KB RAM. Its rich feature set includes USB device/
host/OTG connectivity, I2S™/SPI, mTouch® capacitive touch
sensing and a parallel master port. The starter kit also features
an HCI-based Bluetooth radio, a Cree high-output multi-color
LED, three standard single-color LEDs, an analog 3-axis
accelerometer, an analog temperature sensor and five push
buttons for user-defined inputs. It also comes with a PICkit™
On Board (PKOB), which eliminates the need for an external
debugger/programmer.
If you’d like to implement Bluetooth audio in your design, an
on-board interface allows you to plug either the PIC32 Audio
DAC Daughter Board (AC320032-2) or the PIC32 Audio
Codec Daughter Card (AC320100) into the starter kit. The
PIC32 Audio DAC Daughter Board features the AKM AK4384VT
Stereo DAC, which includes a high-performance 24-bit audio
PIC32 Audio DAC
Daughter Board
(AC320032-2)
PIC32 Audio Codec
Daughter Board
(AC320100)
DAC and a high-performance headphone amplifier. This board
is suitable for adding audio-out capabilities targeting applications such as Bluetooth speakers and headphones. The PIC32
Audio Codec Daughter Board features a high-performance AKM
AK4642EN stereo codec, which includes built-in microphone
and headphone amplifiers. It also includes an MCP1801 power
regulator, an on-board MEMs microphone and 3.5 mm inputs
and outputs (line in, external mic in, line out and headphone
out). This board is suitable for adding audio input and output
capabilities targeting applications such as audio mixing and
(continued on page 18)
17
karaoke equipment, Bluetooth speakers and headphones. To
help accelerate your software development, our Bluetooth
Audio Software Suites feature Bluetooth Break-In mode as
well as a free Bluetooth SPP stack.
In addition to easing the development of Bluetooth audio
applications, the stand-alone starter kit is an ideal solution for
designing a wide range of low-cost applications such as thermostats, wireless gaming controllers, blood glucose meters,
wireless diagnostic tools, GPS receivers, serial adapters and
cordless barcode scanners.
DESIGN CORNER
SPP library. Both are optimized for the on-board PIC32 MCU
and are available via free download from the PIC32 Bluetooth
Starter Kit page. Watch our PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit
Demonstration on YouTube to learn more.
The PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit is supported by Microchip’s
free MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
and MPLAB Harmony Integrated Software Framework.
Additionally, a free Quick Start Package is available which features an Android™ application development environment. It
also includes a free Software Development Kit (SDK) with the
application source code and binary for Microchip’s Bluetooth
18
DESIGN CORNER
Simulation for
Real-World Projects
New Plug-In for Multisim™ 14 Enables Access to PIC® Microcontrollers for
Prototyping Complete Embedded Systems
U
sed by educators, students and professionals worldwide,
Multisim is an industry-standard, best-in-class SPICE simulation environment offered by National Instruments. This
powerful tool includes a comprehensive library of over 26,000
components from leading semiconductor manufacturers to
assist with designing, prototyping and testing electrical circuits.
A new plug-in is now available with Multisim 14 that allows users
to co-simulate with the MPLAB® X Integrated Development
Environment and develop circuits based on PIC microcontrollers (MCUs). Offering a database containing over 4,000 MCUs
and an interactive graphical user interface, this plug-in includes
a set of sample circuits that are essential in many embedded
systems, mechatronics, and analog/digital-mixed applications.
The Beta version of this plug-in is available now for you to
try out. Since it is not integrated into Multisim 14, you’ll need
to download the installer. Visit the Multisim and MPLAB
Co-simulation for Microcontrollers Development page on
National Instruments’ website where you will find the link for the
download and set-up instructions. On this page, you’ll also find
several examples of sample circuits using PIC MCUs that are
available with the plug-in.
Visit the National Instruments website for more information
about Multisim 14 and their other products.
This plug-in allows students to learn advanced concepts for
real-world applications, such as Pulse-Width Modulation and
LCD displays. The single software environment enables educators to easily integrate the principles of analog electronics,
digital circuits and embedded systems into their lesson plans.
Professional engineers can use this plug-in with Multisim 14
to innovate with new product concepts, accurately developing a wide range of applications while accelerating their
time-to-market.
This Analog-to-Digital Converter example uses one of the output
ports to display a text message on a graphical display
19
Getting the Most Out of
Flowcode Software
DESIGN CORNER
Matrix Technology Solutions Offers Professional Services to Support
Your Product Development
F
Enhanced Support: Whether you need
assistance to get up and running with your
first Flowcode project, or need some technical expertise to help speed up more complex
developments using Flowcode, Matrix’s team of
engineers is ready and available.
Purchasing Flowcode is just the beginning of your development
project. Matrix Technology Solutions (Matrix TSL), creator of
Flowcode and a Microchip Third-Party Tool Provider, offers a
range of professional services
that will enable you to achieve
more from their products and
solutions. From additional
enhanced customer support
with rapid response times,
to training to ensure you are
getting the most out of your
Flowcode software, to assistance with your own internal
development projects, they
have the expertise to support
your specific requirements.
MATRIX
Extended Services: Do you need help developing
your Flowcode programs, or perhaps creating custom Flowcode 6 components? If so, the
Extended Service agreement allows you to subcontract specific pieces of work to Matrix’s Flowcode
experts. This service allows industrial customers to
reduce the time to market for their solutions.
FLOWCODE
Electronic system design software
lowcode electronic system design software, available for
purchase from microchipDIRECT, allows you to quickly
and easily develop complex electronic and electromechanical systems. The graphical programming tool allows even
those with little experience to develop complex electronic
systems in minutes.
Training: If you are interested in training 1:1
with Matrix’s development team, they can tailor
courses at their UK headquarters location to meet
your requirements or visit your company or place
of work to deliver personalized instruction.
Accelerator Pack: Reduce the time to market
for your embedded engineering projects.
Matrix’s accelerator pack reduces your team’s
learning curve and ensures you are productive
within days of purchase.
For more details, visit the Professional Services page on the
Matrix TSL website.
20
DESIGN CORNER
Mobile Computing in the Lab
Wireless Oscilloscope Uses Tablet Devices for Display
T
urn your tablet or computing device into an oscilloscope
display. The Velleman WFS210 is the world’s first WLAN
dual-channel digital storage oscilloscope geared towards
iOS® and Android™ tablets. Recognizing that a majority of hobbyists, students and engineers already own or have access to
a tablet or personal computer, Velleman created this compact,
portable, battery-powered and full-featured oscilloscope to
display measurements on your tablet or Windows® based PC
instead of on a traditional built-in screen.
Because the WFS210 acts as a wireless hotspot, data is
exchanged between the tablet and the oscilloscope via WLAN,
eliminating the need for wires. The devices do not even need
to be in the same location to work together. However, if a wired
connection is desired, the WFS210 can also be connected to a
PC via the USB port.
The standard oscilloscope usually contains numerous dials and
buttons and can be challenging to use. The WFS210 can be
easily controlled using the typical tablet gestures such as touching, swiping and pinching. Taking screenshots is also very easy.
The communication protocol used between the oscilloscope
and the tablet is freely available, so third-party developers are
able to develop applications for other purposes. The WFS210
comes with a Li-Ion battery that can be recharged via the USB
port. When fully charged, it runs up to 10 hours continuously.
Velleman also offers a 60 MHz Insulated Scope Probe as an
accessory for the WFS210 dual-channel WLAN digital storage
oscilloscope.
Visit the WFS210 page on Velleman’s website for additional
details and links to the related documents and downloads. An
iPad® app is also available.
You can purchase the WFS210 and the 60 MHz Insulated Scope
Probe from microchipDIRECT.
21
DESIGN CORNER
A Collage of
Creative Designs
“If we did all of the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound
ourselves.” – Thomas Edison
K
eeping up with the pace of innovation in the world of
electronic design can make one breathless at times.
Each day in our connected world, a seemingly endless
array of inventions and prototypes for new projects passes
before our eyes via social media, blogs, industry publications
and media streaming sites.
Some of the most interesting and compelling designs are being
created by the hobbyist, maker and educational communities.
Many are one-off prototypes for open-source projects, intended
to be shared with others who have a common passion for making.
Others are created for educational purposes or for participation
in some sort of competition. A number of them are concepts for
actual products that are being promoted on crowdfunding sites.
Of course, we are especially encouraged when our products are
selected by the designers of many of these new projects. While
we cannot possibly begin to acknowledge each and every one,
we do try to share some of them with our followers on social
media. Here are some designs that we have recently highlighted.
Cubit Workshop is a drag-and-drop visual programming tool.
Cubit Smartwares is an assortment of plug-and-play electronic
peripherals, allowing you to wire and integrate your own custom
electronic circuits. The Cubit Controller is powered by a PIC32
microcontroller (MCU). The MCU’s built-in hardware peripherals
enable the Cubit Controller to run multiple program loops simultaneously. In addition to creating an extremely easy and intuitive
entry point to electronic development for novices, Cubit still allows
traditional coding and easy integration to user-specific electronic
components. For the experienced software engineer, programs
can be written entirely in Lua. Sections of Lua code can also be
added within Workshop’s visual programming environment. Cubit
is opening the door to truly accessible electronics while offering the
same features and capabilities as commercial platforms currently
used by engineers. Learn more on the Cubit Kickstarter page.
Bringing Electronics
Projects to Life
No coding. No wiring. Just making. Cubit, an electronic platform
developed by Qfusion Labs, is intended to unify the gap between
hardware and software engineering, making custom electronic
projects accessible to everyone. It consists of three components.
Cubit Workshop is a drag-and-drop programming tool
22
University-Quality
Robotics Platform for All
Developed by Mid-Ohio Area Robotics, Muribot is a small,
compact disc-sized robot designed to introduce people of all
ages and experience to Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) concepts. It uses a low-power,
high-performance PIC18F46J50 to deliver precision timing and
fast response times from the robot. The low-power design of
the MCU prevents unnecessary battery drain, while the 48 MHz
clock rate ensures that applications have the processing power
they need to get things done. Muribot programs are written in C
using Microchip’s powerful MPLAB® X IDE coupled with the
MPLAB XC8 tool suite. The Muribot API makes writing programs for the platform easy and an excellent tool for teaching
robotics and coding to even elementary school students. While
the original version of Muribot was priced at $250.00, development of Muribot 2.0 is currently being planned with a target
price of only $60.00. The project will be documented on
Hackaday.io so you’ll be able to follow its creation from start to
finish. For additional information on Muribot, contact Mid-Ohio
Area Robotics at marketing@moarobotics.com.
DESIGN CORNER
wireless communication module, a line of AX12 motors and
USB communication. Visit the SquareTips project page on the
Robotips website for more information.
SumoBot is a registered trademark of Parallax Inc.
SquareTips is a tiny robot that fits in the palm of your hand
A Wall of Light
Muribot is a small, compact disc-sized robot design to introduce
people of all ages and experience to STEM concepts
Making its debut at the recent Maker Faire Bay Area, MurumLux
was commissioned by Microchip to serve as an interactive
display at our booth. It highlights the capabilities of the 32-bit
PIC® MCU on a chipKIT™ Wi-FIRE board and our GestIC®
gesture recognition technology. Ian, the designer, was challenged at first to come up with a solution that would allow I2C™
communication to travel three meters. His solution was to use
an Ethernet shield from IPLogika, a Microchip Premier
Third-Party Tools Partner, as well as a chipKIT Fubarino® Mini
board. As a result, his design allowed visitors to our booth to
control the ultra-bright LED display from about 10 feet away by
just waving a hand. You can read a detailed summary of the
MurumLux project on Ian’s blog.
Miniature Fighter
SquareTips is a tiny robot that fits in the palm of your hand.
Developed for a SumoBot® competition held recently in Paris,
France, it could not exceed a total size of 10 × 10 cm and a
weight of 500g. The Robotips team wanted their design to be
low-cost and open hardware. It uses five dsPIC33EP DSCs—
one on each of four screen controller boards and another
on the main controller board. Designed for use in a range of
robotics applications, the main board can control four DC
5A motors and manage two incremental coders, nine analog
sensors or an RC motor, an RS485 bus, a Microchip XBee®
The ultra-bright LED display of MurumLux welcomed visitors to
Microchip’s booth at Maker Faire Bay Area
23
Come and join Microchip at one of the 2015 MASTERs Conference locations and
experience the premier technical training event for embedded control engineers
around the globe. The MASTERs Conference continues to arm system design
engineers of every level with extensive product information and hands-on training
to help you scale the learning curve and get your products to market faster.
Classes cover a broad range of topics and are taught by Microchip’s application
and design engineers. Come learn from the same people who have designed the
products you will use in class and walk out with everything you need to get up
and running on your new design. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend one of
these conferences!
Register today for:
Worldwide MASTERs Conference 2015: Phoenix, Arizona
MASTERs 2015
Conference Preview Guide
August 19–22, 2015 (Pre-conference: August 17–18)
www.microchip.com/masters
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