Date: 14th July 09

 8-bit microcontrollers with LCD interface for medical and metering applications

Microchip unveiled a new family of 8-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) with LCD interface for medical electronics and e-metering applications.

The PIC18F87J93 8-bit direct LCD-drive MCUs feature up to 16 channels of 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC), the mTouch Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) peripheral for capacitive touch sensing, and a hardware Real-Time Clock and Calendar (RTCC).

This family enables the precise measurement from sensors required in medical and metering applications .

The 64-pin and 80-pin PIC18F87J93 MCUs have memory ranging from 64 to 128 KB Flash program memory and 4 KB RAM, and pin-out compatible with Microchip's entire LCD-drive MCU portfolio.

The on-chip 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels and on-chip hardware RTC works in sleep mode to ensure low power consumption.

Feature mTouch CTMU peripheral to enable the addition of capacitive touch-sensing user interfaces or precise time measurements.The LCD charge pump provides contrast control and maintains low-power ratings .

"Microchip's PIC18F87J93 family expands our portfolio of cost-effective LCD products. For metering and medical applications, their 12-bit ADC, mTouch peripheral and extended memory deliver a cost-effective feature set," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. "The new devices offer a drop-in upgrade in features and memory to our popular and low-cost PIC18F85J90 LCD family."

The broad range of applications for the PIC18F87J93 MCUs include:

1. Metering applications : Electricity, flow, gas and water meters.
2. Medical applications : blood-pressure meters, patient-monitoring systems, infusion pumps and     CPAP devices.
3. Consumer applications: Internet-enabled appliances, white goods, game controllers and coffee      machines.
4. Industrial applications: home-alarm/security-system keypads, thermostats, power meters, security     panels, data logging and central AC communication controllers.
5. Automotive applications: Control panels and body electronics.

Package: PIC18F66J93 and PIC18F67J93 MCUs in 64-pin TQFP.
                    PIC18F86J93 and PIC18F87J93 MCUs in 80-pin TQFP.

Price : Each US$2.71 for 10k pieces

Low cost targeted: Yes
Low power features: Yes

Availability: Now in samples at www.sample.microchip.com

For further information visit at www.microchip.com/pic18f87j93