New PIC® and AVR® MCUs Can Now Enhance System Performance For Closed-loop Applications

Closed-loop control happen to be one of the most basic tasks carried out by embedded systems whether it is in air handling units or pool pumps. The new developments in framework of AVR® and PIC® 8-bit MCU (microcontrollers) come with an ability to manage many more tasks as well as saving power. The Microchip Technology Inc. recently introduced ATtiny1607 and PIC18 Q10 families to give a free hand to designers who wish to maximize the efficiency and performance of such systems.

Fig. 1: ATtiny1607 MCU Family

The AVR® and PIC® MCUs feature numerous logical CIPs (Core Independent Peripherals) that ease up the development and allow instant response time to system events. These AVR® and PIC® MCUs are perfect for closed-loop control system. One of the prime benefits of using PIC 18 Q10 as well as ATtiny1607 MCUs is CIPs that freely manage all tasks and brings down the amount of processing needed from CPU. The AVR® and PIC® MCUs will also enable system designers save much more time and ease the design efforts with hardware-based CIPs that also bring down the need for software needed to write as well as validate.

Both AVR® and PIC® MCUs have been blessed with features for better execution and functional safety till 5V. This also allows the AVR® and PIC® MCUs can also enhance better noise immunity and offer better compatibility with most off digital sensors and analog output. The AVR® and PIC® MCUs come in compact 3 x 3 mm 20-pin QFN package, the ATtiiny1607 family has been optimized for space restricted closed-loop control system like the remote controls and handheld power tools. Along with the integrated high-speed ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) offering rapid conversion of analog signals leading to deterministic system response. These MCUs also offer better oscillator precision giving designers to bring down the external components as well as saving costs.

The vice president of Microchip’s 8-bit MCU business units, Steve Drehobl, adds that, “We continue to see increased demand for flexible PIC and AVR microcontrollers in all kinds of embedded control applications. By focusing on the challenges faced by closed-loop control system designers, we’ve been able to offer them unprecedented ease of use and performance with the PIC18 Q10 and ATtiny1607 families.”