PIC16F18446 Product Family
8-Bit MCUs with High Resolution Analog and Low Power
The PIC16(L)F18446 8-bit product family features high resolution, Intelligent Analog and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) for sensor end node applications. The family features 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADC2), PWMs, multiple communication interfaces, a temperature sensor and memory features like Memory Access Partition (MAP) and Device Information Area (DIA). The MCUs have up to 28 KB of Flash and 2 KB of RAM. The MCUs also have power saving and system flexibility features such as CPU IDLE/DOZE modes, peripheral module disable (PMD) and peripheral pin select (PPS). The PIC16(L)F18446 products will be offered in 14-28 pins to support customers in a broad range of applications, including IoT sensor end nodes, motor control, industrial processing control, medical, home appliances, touch sensing and automotive systems.
Intelligent Analog
The products offer intelligent analog peripherals including Zero Cross Detect (ZCD), on-chip comparator and a 12-bit ADC2, automating Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) techniques for advanced touch sensing, averaging, filtering, oversampling and threshold comparison.
Enhanced System Features
Memory Access Partition (MAP) is a customizable Flash block with bootloader write protection. DIA is a dedicated memory space for factory programmed device ID and peripheral calibration values.
Development Made Easy
The PIC16(L)F18446 family will be supported by MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC), a free software plug-in that provides a graphical interface to configure peripherals and functions specific to your application. MCC is incorporated into our award-winning development environments, the downloadable MPLAB X IDE and the cloud-based MPLAB Xpress IDE.
Building Blocks for Function Enablement
Analog to Digital Converter with Computation (ADC2)
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The Analog to Digital Converter with Computation (ADC2) helps accelerate common math tasks normally done in software by providing post-processing functions like averaging, low-pass filter, oversampling and threshold comparison.
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Zero Cross Detect (ZCD)
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The Zero Cross Detect (ZCD) module can monitor AC line voltage, and indicate zero crossing activity. This information is made directly available to on-board Waveform Generation peripherals for use in TRIAC control applications, greatly reducing both CPU demand and BOM cost.
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10-bit PWM
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The 10-bit PWM provides edge-aligned output, which can be used with the Complementary Waveform Generator.
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Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG)
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Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) provides a complementary waveform with rising and falling edge dead band control, enabling high efficiency synchronous switching, with no processor overhead. The CWG also incorporates auto shutdown, auto restart, and can interface directly with other peripherals / external inputs.
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Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO)
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Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) is a precision linear frequency generator with fine step resolution. It provides high-resolution oscillator capabilities to control applications such as lighting ballast, radio and tone generator.
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Data Signal Modulator (DSM)
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Data Signal Modulator (DSM) offers smooth signal switching. When paired with 16-bit PWM, LED dimming engine functionality is created.
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Hardware Limit Timer (HLT)
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The Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) can detect faults in motors, power supplies, and other external devices. It can automatically notify the system to make provisions to shut down and/or safely restart.
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24-bit Signal Measurement Timer (SMT)
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The 24-bit Signal Measurement Timer (SMT) performs high-resolution measurements of any digital signal in hardware, resulting in near zero latency and high performance when decoding custom communications protocols or signaling.
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Configurable Logic Cell
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The Configurable Logic Cell offers hardware-based combinational and sequential logic functions to simplify and accelerate many common tasks. The CLC can also be used as “glue” logic between peripherals, eliminating the need for CPU intervention during steady-state activity in complex control loops.
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Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT)
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The Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) is a system supervisory circuit that generates a reset when software anomalies are detected within a configurable critical window.
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Peripheral Pin Select (PPS)
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Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) provides ultimate flexibility when routing digital signals to device pins. With PPS, any digital peripheral can be connected to any I/O pin on-the-fly for a customized layout. This allows users to maintain layout compatibility with older PIC® MCUs, even as new features are implemented.
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Advanced Memory Features
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Memory Access Partition (MAP) supports customers in data protection and bootloader applications. Device Information Area (DIA) is a dedicated memory space for factory programmed device ID and peripheral calibration values.
Power Conserving Functionality
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IDLE and DOZE low-power modes allow applications to optimize device performance and power consumption. The Peripheral Module Disable (PMD) allows unused peripherals to be turned off individually, further reducing power consumption. The device features the industry-leading eXtreme Lower Power (XLP) technology.
Key Attributes
- 12-bit ADC with computation, up to 24 channels
- Up to Two Comparators
- Up to four Configurable Logic Cells (CLC)
- Up to 28 KB Flash Program Memory
- Up to 2 KB RAM
- 256B of EEPROM
- Two 10-bit PWMs
- Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG)
- Two Capture, Compare, PWMs (CCP)
- Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO)
- 5-bit DAC
- Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG)
- Windowed Watch Dog Timer (WWDT)
- Communication: SPI/I2C and EUSART
- Capacitive Touch Sensing
- Peripheral Pin Select (PPS)
- Available in 14-, 20- and 28- pin.
This is an example of the kind of Microprocessor/controller that we will use for small portable developments. The system is programmed in 'C' and a little bit of assembler when absolutely necessary!
Microchip now own the ATMEL brand and there is a great variety of microchips available for many digital and analogue purposes.
We use a great variety of these chips for low power and low voltage applications.
Again, the chips have many built in communication facilities such as CAN, I2C, RS485 and radio links.