32bit microcontrollers add USB On-The-Go

PIC32 microcontrollers with integrated USB OTG provide designers with the flexibility to add all three modes of USB operation to their products.

Microchip has added integrated USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) functionality to its 32bit PIC32 microcontroller family.

The PIC32 family brings more performance and memory to embedded designers while maintaining pin, peripheral and software compatibility with Microchip's 16bit microcontroller and DSC families.

The maximum operating frequency for the PIC32 family has been increased to 80MHz, which further extends the performance reach of the new 32bit PIC32 microcontroller family.

To further ease migration and protect tool investments, Microchip's is the only complete portfolio of 8, 16 and 32bit devices to be supported by a single integrated development environment - the free MPLAB IDE.

Some USB products, such as PCs, operate only in a host role, whereas others - for example, USB Flash drives - operate only as devices.

Products with OTG functionality can operate in either role - even auto-negotiating which will be the USB host or device when encountering another OTG product.

The new PIC32 microcontrollers with integrated USB OTG provide designers with the flexibility to add all three modes of USB operation to their products.

The new MCUs also include the USB OTG PHY, enabling even lower costs and smaller PCB real estate.

All PIC32 family products are supported by Microchip's world-class development tools, including the MPLAB Development Environment, the MPLAB C32 C compiler, the MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system, the MPLAB ICD 2 in-circuit debugger, and the MPLAB PM3 universal device programmer.

Microchip also provides free source code for USB software stacks and class drivers to enable designers to get a head start on the development of their USB applications.

Microchip's free USB Host Stack, Device Stack and Class Drivers (HID, MSD, CDC, Custom) are available from the company's website.

The free USB OTG Stack is currently in beta, with full release scheduled for Q2 2008.

The PIC32 family also enjoys broad tool support throughout the industry.

Complete tool chains are available from Ashling, Green Hills, Hi-Tech and Lauterbach - including C and C++ compilers, IDEs and debuggers.

RTOS support is available from CMX, Express Logic, FreeRTOS, Micrium, Segger and Pumpkin.

Graphics tools providers include EasyGUI, Segger, RamTeX and Micrium.

The PIC32 USB Starter Kit comes complete with everything that developers need to get started, including the USB-powered MCU board, the MPLAB IDE and MPLAB C32 C compiler, documentation, sample projects with tutorials, schematics, and 16bit compatible peripheral libraries.

Application expansion boards are also being made available, which plug into the expansion slot on the bottom of the MCU board.

The PIC32 USB Starter Kit (part number DM320003) is expected to be available in Q2 2008.

Owners of Microchip's Explorer 16 development board can purchase a USB OTG PIC32 plug-in module (part number MA32002) and a USB PICtail Plus daughterboard (part number AC164131).

The four new PIC32 family members with USB OTG have Flash program memory sises from 128 to 512Kbyte in 64- or 100-pin TQFP packages.

The USB OTG devices are now available for sampling, and volume availability is expected in Q2 2008.

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