As the development of high-end embedded control applications becomes more complex, system developers need more flexible options to provide system scalability. To that end, Microchip Technology Inc. today announced the launch of a new dual-core and single-core dsPIC33C digital signal controller (DSC) designed to meet changing application needs and provide more options in memory, operating temperature and functional safety.

 

Microchip's new dsPIC33CH512MP508 dual-core DSC can support applications with greater program memory requirements. The dsPIC33CK64MP105 single-core DSC provides a low cost option for applications requiring smaller memory and volume. Developers can easily switch between these new devices because the pins of the dsPIC33CH and dsPIC33CK series are fully compatible.

The dsPIC33CH512MP508(MP5) series extends the recently launched dsPIC33CH by increasing the memory capacity from 128 KB to 512 KB and tripling the program RAM(random access memory) storage capacity from 24 KB to 72 KB. The expanded devices can support larger applications that require multiple software stacks or larger program memory, such as vehicle-mounted and wireless charging applications. In-car applications require more memory to support AUTOSAR software, MCAL drives, and CAN FD peripherals. Wireless charging in car applications requires additional software protocol stacks to support the Qi protocol and near field communication (NFC), which in turn requires more program storage space. Real-time firmware updates with real-time updates are essential for high availability systems, but also double the overall memory requirements. In a dual-core device, one of the cores may be designed as the master core and the other as the slave core. The slave core is used to execute time-sensitive dedicated control code, while the master core is used to run functions such as user interfaces, system monitoring, and communications. For example, dual-core helps divide the software protocol stack for parallel execution of the Qi protocol and other functions, including NFC, to optimize the perance of on-board wireless charging applications.

The dsPIC33CK64MP105(MP1) series is an extension of the recently launched dsPIC33CK series, where the low-cost model is suitable for smaller memory and package applications and is available in up to 64 KB of flash memory and 28 to 48 pin packages with a minimum package size of 4 mm x 4 mm. This compact device provides an ideal combination of features for on-board sensors, motor controls, high-density DC-DC applications, or stand-alone Qi transmitters. Single-core and dual-core dsPIC33C devices provide fast determination perance for time-sensitive control applications by extending the context select register, reducing interrupt latency and speeding up instruction execution for mathematics-intensive algorithms.

 

"With 76 dsPIC33C single - and dual-core devices in the lineup, customers can more easily adapt to changes in their memory, I/O, perance or budget needs using common tools, common peripherals and package compatibility," said Joe Thomsen, vice president of Microchip's MCU16 business unit. In addition, dual-core devices make software integration easier for various software development teams, allowing them to focus on control algorithms without the distraction of communication and routine business code."

All devices in the dsPIC33C family include a fully functional set of functional safety hardware that simplifies ASIL-B and ASIL-C certifications for safety-critical applications. Functional security features include multiple redundant clock sources, fail-safe clock monitor (FSCM), IO port read back, flash error-correcting code (ECC), RAM built-in self-check (BIST), write protection, analog peripheral redundancy, and more. With a powerful set of CAN-FD peripherals and added support for operating at 150°C temperatures, these devices are ideal for applications in extreme environments such as the front hood of a vehicle.

Development support

The dsPIC33C family is supported by Microchip's MPLAB® development ecosystem, including Microchip's freely downloadable MPLAB X Integrated development Environment (IDE), MPLAB code configurator, MPLAB XC16 C compiler toolchain, and MPLAB Online debugger/Programmer tools.  Microchip's motorBench™ 2.0 development kit now supports high voltage motors up to 600V, helping customers tune the motors with field oriented control (FOC) algorithms.

The whole system has various development boards and plug-in modules (PIMs). Among the new device development tools are the dsPIC33CH Curiosity development Board (DM330028-2), the dsPIC33CH512MP508 PIM for general design (MA330046), dsPIC33CH512MP508 PIM for Motor Control (MA330045), dsPIC33CK64MP105 PIM for Universal Design (MA330047), dsPIC33CK64MP105 PIM(MA330050-1) for external operational amplifier motor control and dsPIC33CK64MP105(MA330050-2) for internal operational amplifier motor control.