Single-Chip Wireless Platform Enables Multi-Protocol Products
What you'll learn:
- Features of Microchip's new single-chip MCU solution offering multi-protocol capabilities.
- How the SoC simplifies system development, especially for motor control.
Promoting extended device lifecycles, minimized redesigns, and differentiated features, Microchip Technology's highly integrated PIC32-BZ6 MCU serves as a common, single-chip platform for multi-protocol products. The device reduces development cost, complexity, and time-to-market while delivering advanced connectivity and scalability.
The PIC32-BZ6 MCU offers multi-protocol wireless capabilities, advanced analog features, and high I/O for smarter, more connected products with greater efficiency. Avoiding the need for multiple chips to add new features or frequent redesigns to support evolving industry standards, it replaces multichip solutions and reduces the redesign burden with a single, highly integrated chip.
The MCU also includes analog peripherals to simplify motor-control development, as well as touch and graphics capabilities for advanced user interfaces. Enhanced memory supports complex applications, heavy workloads, and over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates.
Features include high-memory and scalable package choices, and 2-MB flash memory and 512-kB RAM in 132-pin ICs and modules, with additional pin and package variants planned. It's qualified against Bluetooth Core Specification 6.0, supports 802.15.4-based protocols such as Thread and Matter, plus proprietary smart-home mesh-networking protocols.
Among the multiple interfaces are two CAN-FD ports for automotive and industrial communication, a 10/100-Mb/s Ethernet MAC for high-speed wired connectivity, and a USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver for seamless data transfer and PC integration. Peripherals for advanced user interfaces include capacitive voltage divider (CVD)-based touch capabilities with up to 18 channels.
For motor control, it simplifies system development through advanced analog peripherals such as 12-bit ADCs, 7-bit DACs, analog comparators, pulse-width modulators (PWMs), and QEI for precise motor position and speed control. Immutable secure boot in ROM and an advanced on-board, hardware-based security engine supports AES, SHA, ECC, and TRNG encryption.
For harsh environments, the device is qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 1 (125°C) specifications for automotive and industrial. To further ease regulatory compliance, pre-certified modules are available in multiple regions worldwide.
The PIC32-BZ6 MCU family is supported by the PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board for testing all MCU I/Os, connectivity, and peripheral features, as well as a comprehensive development environment through Microchip’s MPLAB Integrated Development Environment and the Zephyr Real Time Operating System.
The MCU platform currently includes the PIC32CX2051BZ62132 SoC and the PIC32WM-BZ6204UE RF-certified module, designed for rapid integration into wireless products with streamlined certification.
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About the Author
Alix Paultre
Editor-at-Large, Microwaves & RF
Alix is Editor-at-Large for Microwaves & RF.
An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the U.S. military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications, most recently as Editor-in-Chief of Power Systems Design.
Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.