News Microchip Releases New 12F508 and 12F509 Flash Microcontrollers Microchip Technology Adds Flash Program Memory to the Most Popular Baseline PIC Microcontrollers Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced five new PIC? 8-bit Flash microcontrollers that provide program-memory updates to its most popular Baseline one-time programmable (OTP) microcontrollers. Offering Flash memory in the updated Baseline devices allows customers the ability to reprogram their design during development, production and when installed in the field -- speeding time-to-market and reducing both development and production costs. Designers of today's most cost-constrained systems are constantly looking for ways to increase development efficiencies and reduce total system costs. As the worldwide leader in 8-bit microcontroller unit shipments, according to Gartner Dataquest, Microchip's Baseline PIC devices are extensively used in a large array of these cost-sensitive applications. The new PIC16F54, PIC16F57, PIC16F505, PIC12F508 and PIC12F509 offer customers the benefits of reprogrammable Flash memory via an easy migration path from Microchip's existing OTP devices, with equivalent price points and identical pincounts in 8-, 14-, 18-, 20- and 28-pin packages. Additional enhanced features on these new microcontrollers include an improved internal oscillator, wider operating voltage of 2 - 5.5V, improved reset functionality, and smaller (MSOP) packaging for the PIC12F508 and PIC12F509. Other significant features of these new Baseline PIC microcontrollers include: • Standard Flash Program Memory • 4 MHz Internal Oscillator • Baseline 12-bit Core With 33 Instructions and Two Stack Levels • 25 mA Source/Sink Current I/O • Low Power (100 nA) Sleep Current • One 8-bit Timer (TMR0) • Watchdog Timer (WDT) • In-Circuit Serial Programming? (ICSP?) Capability • Power on Reset • Power-Saving Sleep Mode The new PIC devices form the basic building blocks for a wide variety of systems across a broad range of markets. Applications that are particularly well suited for these cost-effective Flash microcontrollers include: Logic Control (any form of delay, smart gates, signal conditioning, simple state machines, encoders/decoders, I/O expanders and small peripheral logic functions on larger PC Boards); Mechatronics (includes smart switches, mode selectors, remote I/Os, timers, LED flashers and any other form of mechanical timers and switches); Waveform Generation (traditional 555 timer applications such as PWMs, remote control encoders, pulse generation, programmable frequency source and replacements for resistor-programmable oscillators); and Small Home Appliances (blenders, toasters, coffee machines and electric toothbrushes). The company's Web site address is http://www.microchip.com/. [Reprinted with kind permission from Microchip Corporation]